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Butterflies and Moths' Habitat:

Your Own Yard!

The first place where you might want to venture to see what species of butterflies and moths are flying is your own yard.  Granted, you might not find a wide variety of species flying because of the general lack of native hostplants; but, you will see some.  

You also want to keep in mind that the closer your home is to natural habitat--i.e, Valley Wetlands, Valley Rivers, or the mouth of a canyon, the better your chance of finding more species of Utah butterflies and moths.

What Butterfly Species You Might Find in Your Own Yard:

Whites and Sulphurs (Family Pieridae)

Checkered White (Pieris protodice)
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)

Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae)

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
West Coast Lady (Vanessa carye annabella)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta rubria)
          Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Family Lycaenidae)

Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus franki)
Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exile)

Milkweed Butterflies (Family Danaidae)

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

 

Skippers (Family Hesperiidae)

Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)
Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba)
          Sandhill Skipper (Polites sabuleti sabuleti)

Swallowtails (Family Papilionidae)       

Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata pusillus)
 

What Moth Species You Might Find in Your Own Yard:

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