Butterflies Near Me › Arizona

Butterflies in Arizona

The quickest way to know which butterflies live in Arizona is to see what people are actually finding. The map below shows recent, verified butterflies sightings across Arizona, and the list beneath it is the butterflies recorded most often there lately. Which species are flying changes through the season, so recent sightings tell you more than a range map. Warm, still, sunny days near flowers are best.

Recent research-grade sightings from the iNaturalist community, filtered to butterflies across Arizona.

Butterflies seen most often in Arizona

Ranked by recent research-grade observations. Tap any species Huck has catalogued for how to identify it, its habitat, and its safety notes.

Queen
Danaus gilippus
9,137 observations · iNaturalist
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
7,431 observations · iNaturalist
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
5,521 observations
Marine Blue
Leptotes marina
5,405 observations · iNaturalist
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
4,684 observations
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
3,073 observations
Dainty Sulphur
Nathalis iole
2,901 observations
Ceraunus Blue
Hemiargus ceraunus
2,892 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
2,598 observations
Texan Crescent
Anthanassa texana
2,533 observations · iNaturalist
Echo Azure
Celastrina echo
2,512 observations · iNaturalist
Western Pygmy-Blue
Brephidium exilis
2,485 observations · iNaturalist
Checkered White
Pontia protodice
2,330 observations · iNaturalist
Gulf Fritillary
Dione vanillae
2,323 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Buckeye
Junonia grisea
2,235 observations · iNaturalist
Reakirt's Blue
Echinargus isola
2,143 observations · iNaturalist
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
2,039 observations · iNaturalist
Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia
1,930 observations
Blue-ringed Dancer
Argia sedula
1,918 observations · iNaturalist
Fatal Metalmark
Calephelis nemesis
1,786 observations · iNaturalist

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and the ranking reflects where people record wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily common everywhere in Arizona. Treat this as a live snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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More wildlife in Arizona

All wildlife in ArizonaSnakes in ArizonaFrogs in ArizonaTurtles in ArizonaLizards in ArizonaSalamanders in ArizonaOwls in ArizonaSpiders in ArizonaWildflowers in Arizona

Looking more widely? See butterflies near you anywhere in the country.

Common questions

What butterflies live in Arizona?

Commonly recorded butterflies in Arizona include Queen, White-lined Sphinx, Pipevine Swallowtail, Marine Blue, Painted Lady, based on recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. The full list below is ranked by how often each has been seen lately.

When is the best time to see butterflies in Arizona?

Which species are flying changes through the season, so recent sightings tell you more than a range map. Recent verified sightings across Arizona are the most reliable guide to what is active right now.

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