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USDA Laws and Permits for the Farmer – The USDA has control over transportation of butterflies across state lines.
Because butterfly caterpillars eat plants, they are considered to be
‘plant pests’.
Nine different species of butterflies are allowed to be shipped. Not all of those 9 species can be shipped to all states.
The chart below indicates which butterfly species are allowed to be shipped into which states for release.
Monarchs are not allowed to be shipped across the Continental Divide,
either way. But some butterfly farmers raise butterflies for west coast and vice a versa. This enables them to still be able to fill orders
across the Rocky Mts. and not break the law by
working with farmers on the opposite side of the divide and drop-shipping Monarchs to each other’s customers.
New York limits the amounts of butterflies that are allowed to be shipped into the state for release to fifty (50). If customers wish to release
more than fifty butterflies,
then they must apply for a permit thru the state of New York. Contact information for releases of more than 50 butterflies in New York is below.
The USDA limits the number of butterflies to 250 (of any one species) for one release. If a mixture of species is being released,
only 250 of any one species is allowed to be
released without permission from the USDA.
USDA Permit Page
Monarch butterflies cannot be shipped across the continental divide. Western farmers and eastern farmers often work together. An eastern
farmer contracts to ship Monarchs for a western farmer and vice-versa.
The same is true of other species. If a customer in Connecticut purchases from a farmer in Florida and requests Mourning Cloaks,
the Florida farmer could make the sale if the farmer has
an agreement with a farmer in a state which can ship Mourning Cloaks. That farmer would ship Mourning Cloaks to Connecticut for the release.
Zebra Longwing butterflies from TX, LA, and MS cannot be shipped to FL, SC. AL, and GA and vice-versa.
Note: Any species may be shipped within state which is native to the state and raised by a farmer within the state.
M Monarch
GF Gulf Fritillary
RA Red Admiral
PL Painted Lady
AL American (Painted) Lady
ZL Zebra Longwing
MC Mourning Cloak
GST Giant Swallowtail
BST Black Swallowtail
Alabama: GF, M, ZL, GST, BST, RA, PL, AL
Alaska: MC, RA, PL, AL
Arizona: GF, GST, MC, RA, PL, AL
Arkansas: GF, M, GST, MC, RA, PL, AL
California: GF, M, MC, RA, PL, AL
Colorado: M,MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Connecticut: M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Delaware: M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Florida: GF, M, ZL, BST, RA, PL, AL
Georgia: GF, M, ZL, GST, BST, RA, PL, AL
Hawaii: None (you must purchase from a butterfly farm in Hawaii)
Idaho: M, MC, RA, PL, AL
Illinois: GF, M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Indiana: GF, M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Iowa: GF,M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Kansas: GF, M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Kentucky: GF, M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Louisiana: GF, M, ZL, GST, BST, RA, PL, AL
Maine: M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Maryland: GF, M, MC, RA, PL, AL
Massachusetts: M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Michigan: M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Minnesota: M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Mississippi: GF, M, ZL, GST, BST, RA, PL, AL
Missouri: GF, M, GST, MC, RA, PL, AL
Montana: MC, RA, PL, AL
Nebraska: GF, M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Nevada: MC, RA, PL, AL
New Hampshire: M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
New Jersey: M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
New Mexico: GF, M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
New York: M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
North Carolina: GF, M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
North Dakota: M, MC, RA, PL, AL
Ohio: GF, M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Oklahoma: GF, M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Oregon: M, MC, RA, PL, AL
Pennsylvania: GF, M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Puerto Rico: None (a farmer must be located in Puerto Rico)
Rhode Island: M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
South Carolina: GF, M, ZL, GST, BST, RA, PL, AL
South Dakota: M, MC, GST, RA, PL, AL
Tennessee: GF, M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Texas: GF, M, ZL, GST, BST, RA, PL, AL
Utah: M, MC, RA, PL, AL
Vermont: M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Virginia: GF, M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Washington: M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
West Virginia: M, GST, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Wisconsin: M, MC, BST, RA, PL, AL
Wyoming: M, MC, RA, PL, AL
Washington DC: GF, M, MC, RA, PL, AL
Virgin Islands: None (a farmer must be located in the Virgin Islands)
Guam: None (a farmer must be located in Guam)
To obtain your New York permit application to release more than 50 butterflies or for more information about butterfly
releases call Kathy O'Brien's office.
Kathy O’Brien’s contact information:
(518) 402-8990
NYSDEC Special Licenses Unit
625 Broadway
Albany, New York 12233
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