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Native Butterfly & Moth Species Guides

16 species raised in North America, grouped by how long each one takes from egg to adult. Each guide covers host plants, stage-by-stage timing, what goes wrong, and when to release.

For a classroom unit the timing works backwards from the end date, and the other column to read is where the host plant comes from: a species fed from a tree needs that tree within reach before anything else.

About four weeks, egg to adult8 species

Host plants are sold in garden centres or grow wild, and the whole cycle fits inside a school term.

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus · Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

The iconic North American wanderer celebrated for its epic multi-generational migration to central Mexico and coastal California.

Host plants:
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Egg to adult:
about 26 days
Host plants come from:
sold as a garden plant
Active:
May – October (Multi-brooded)
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Eastern Black Swallowtail

Papilio polyxenes · Papilionidae (Swallowtails)

A resilient, velvety black butterfly with striking blue and yellow markings. Extremely rewarding for backyard gardeners with herb patches.

Host plants:
Dill (Anethum graveolens), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Egg to adult:
about 30 days
Host plants come from:
sold as a garden plant
Active:
April – October
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Gulf Fritillary

Agraulis vanillae · Nymphalidae (Heliconians)

A dazzling, elongated bright-orange butterfly with metallic silver underwing spots. Extremely active and prolific around passionflower vines.

Host plants:
Purple Passionflower / Maypop (Passiflora incarnata), Corkystem Passionflower (Passiflora suberosa)
Egg to adult:
about 25 days
Host plants come from:
sold as a garden plant
Active:
March – November
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui · Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

The most widely distributed butterfly on Earth, found on every continent except Antarctica. It is the species most used in classrooms, because of its short lifecycle and its tolerance of an artificial wheat-germ diet.

Host plants:
Thistles (Cirsium spp.), Common Mallow (Malva neglecta)
Egg to adult:
about 24 days
Host plants come from:
common wild plant; an artificial diet is also sold
Active:
March – November
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Red Admiral

Vanessa atalanta · Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

A friendly, highly territorial butterfly adorned with bright scarlet bands on dark chocolate wings. Readily perches on human shoulders and tree trunks.

Host plants:
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis)
Egg to adult:
about 27 days
Host plants come from:
common wild plant
Active:
March – October
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Common Buckeye

Junonia coenia · Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

A swift, sun-loving butterfly recognized by its large target-like eyespots and iridescent violet-blue centers designed to startle predators.

Host plants:
Narrowleaf Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major)
Egg to adult:
about 26 days
Host plants come from:
common wild plant
Active:
May – October
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Cloudless Sulphur

Phoebis sennae · Pieridae (Whites & Sulphurs)

A luminous, sun-drenched lemon-yellow butterfly capable of rapid, high-altitude sustained migratory flights across the southern and eastern United States.

Host plants:
Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa)
Egg to adult:
about 28 days
Host plants come from:
common wild plant
Active:
April – November (Huge late-summer migration waves)
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Viceroy Butterfly

Limenitis archippus · Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

The famous Müllerian mimic of the Monarch. Distinguishable by a thin black transverse line crossing the hindwing veins and its unique overwintering silk hibernaculum.

Host plants:
Black Willow (Salix nigra), Sandbar Willow (Salix interior)
Egg to adult:
about 27 days
Host plants come from:
tree or shrub
Active:
May – October
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Five to six weeks6 species

One thing needs arranging in advance — a host plant to source, or a timeline that runs past a half-term.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio glaucus · Papilionidae (Swallowtails)

One of the largest and most majestic butterflies in North America, sporting brilliant tiger stripes and false eye spots on mature larvae.

Host plants:
Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Egg to adult:
about 37 days
Host plants come from:
tree or shrub
Active:
May – September
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Pipevine Swallowtail

Battus philenor · Papilionidae (Swallowtails)

A breathtaking butterfly featuring shimmering iridescent sapphire-blue hindwings. Caterpillars sequester aristolochic acids from pipevines for defense.

Host plants:
Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla), Virginia Snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria)
Egg to adult:
about 33 days
Host plants come from:
sold as a garden plant
Active:
April – October
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Mourning Cloak

Nymphalis antiopa · Nymphalidae (Brush-footed)

One of the longest-lived butterflies on Earth (up to 10–11 months). Features rich maroon-chocolate wings edged with luminous amber borders and cobalt-blue spots.

Host plants:
Black Willow (Salix nigra), Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)
Egg to adult:
about 39 days
Host plants come from:
tree or shrub
Active:
March – October (Overwinters as adult, flying on warm winter days)
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Zebra Swallowtail

Protographium marcellus · Papilionidae (Kite Swallowtails)

A breathtaking kite-swallowtail with stark black-and-white zebra striping, extremely long sword-like tails, and a vivid red triangular dagger mark on the hindwing.

Host plants:
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), Smallflower Pawpaw (Asimina parviflora)
Egg to adult:
about 35 days
Host plants come from:
tree or shrub
Active:
March – September (Distinct spring and summer morphs)
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Spicebush Swallowtail

Papilio troilus · Papilionidae (Swallowtails)

The master of mimicry: adults display shimmering sea-green (males) or royal-blue (females) clouds on black hindwings, while mature larvae resemble cartoon tree snakes with giant false eyespots.

Host plants:
Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Egg to adult:
about 34 days
Host plants come from:
tree or shrub
Active:
April – October
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Giant Swallowtail

Papilio cresphontes · Papilionidae (Swallowtails)

The largest butterfly in North America with wingspans reaching up to 6.3 inches. Features chocolate wings bisected by a brilliant yellow diagonal diagonal sash and yellow-centered tail tips.

Host plants:
Common Rue (Ruta graveolens), Common Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum)
Egg to adult:
about 37 days
Host plants come from:
sold as a garden plant
Active:
April – October
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Longer than six weeks2 species

Both species here are giant silk moths: a wild-collected start, tree foliage, and a pupa that sits through the winter.

Luna Moth

Actias luna · Saturniidae (Giant Silkmoths)

A luminous, ethereal emerald green silkmoth with elongated sweeping tails. Adults do not feed and live purely to reproduce.

Host plants:
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), Hickory (Carya spp.)
Egg to adult:
about 53 days
Host plants come from:
tree or shrub
Active:
April – August (1-3 broods depending on latitude)
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Cecropia Silkmoth

Hyalophora cecropia · Saturniidae (Giant Silkmoths)

North America’s largest native moth, spanning up to 6–7 inches. Features rich russet-red, mahogany, and white crescent crescents, and an extraordinary multi-colored tuberculate larva.

Host plants:
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Egg to adult:
about 66 days
Host plants come from:
tree or shrub
Active:
May – July (Single majestic annual summer brood)
Rearing guide →Emergence timing →

Still deciding?

If you already have a caterpillar and don't know what it is, work through the identification key first. If you are planting for next season, the host plant directory is the place to start.

Caterpillar identification key →Native host plant directory →Regional planting calendar →