Which butterfly should you choose to release at your next event?  

Here are the nine butterflies that are allowed to be shipped across state lines in the United States.  Remember, check to see which butterflies are allowed to be released in your state.  

For butterflies shipped within the United State, go to USDA butterfly release chart and find which ones can be shipped to you.  

Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterflies 

Monarchs are the most popular butterflies for releases.  They are also the most –recognized butterfly.  You will discover that most butterfly farmers raise Monarchs.  It is a lovely butterfly with vivid orange and black markings.  Although they are more expensive than Painted Lady butterflies, they are larger, with a wingspan of 3 3/8” to 4 7/8”.  A Monarch butterfly release is spectacular.  When Monarch butterflies are released, they tend to soar and glide gracefully through the air.  

Painted Lady Butterfly

Painted Lady Butterflies

 Painted Lady butterflies are the second most popular butterflies for release.  Painted Ladies’ colors are orange and brown, with black and white markings on the upper wings.  The underside of the wings features a bright pink spot.  Painted Ladies are not as expensive as Monarchs, since they are smaller with a wingspan of 2” – 2 7/8”.  They do work well in displays because of their size and they seem to be happy in smaller areas.  They tend to fly away quickly when released. 
 
 
 
 
 

Black Swallowtail Butterfly Female

Black Swallowtail Butterflies

Black Swallowtails are beautiful butterflies.  They have a wingspan of approximately 3 ¼ “ – 4 ¼ “.  Black Swallowtail butterflies are primarily black with the males having a yellow band near the edge of their wings.  Females have a row of yellow spots and an iridescent blue band.  If handled too much, a few of their scales may rub off, but it does not affect the butterfly’s ability to fly.  Black Swallowtails are common to the eastern states.  These butterflies flutter when nectaring on flowers.      
   
 
 

American Painted Lady Butterfly

American Painted Lady  Butterflies

The American Painted Lady butterfly looks very similar to the Painted Lady butterfly.  American Painted Lady butterflies  have fewer white markings on their upper wings than the Painted Ladies.  They tend to be found in cooler climates than the Painted Ladies. 
 
 
 
 
 

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Mourning Cloak Butterflies

The Mourning Cloak butterfly appears to be a black butterfly, but is actually a dark maroon with a cream-colored border and violet-blue row of spots on its lower wings.  It has a wingspan of about 2 ¼ “ to 4 “.  Mourning Cloak butterflies can be found in most states throughout the country.  This butterfly likes to play dead when touched. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Red Admiral Butterflies

Red Admiral butterflies are a cheerful-looking butterfly.  It is black with a reddish-orange band along the hind wings and upper wings.  There are white spots on the apex of the wing.  Red Admiral butterflies varies in size, anywhere from 1 ¾ “ to a 3” wingspan.  When released, it has an erratic flight.

Zebra Longwing Butterfly

Zebra Longwing Butterflies

Zebra Longwing butterflies are a medium-sized butterfly.  They have a 2” to 4” wingspan.  Their coloring is mostly black with yellow horizontal stripes that run from wingtip to wingtip.  When flying, it is slow and graceful.  Zebra Longwing butterflies tend to hover in flight, moving from flower to flower.  Zebras Longwing butterflies are only indigenous to the southern states and are raised by butterfly  farmers in the south. 

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

Giant Swallowtail Butterflies

The Giant Swallowtail butterfly is the largest butterfly of the North American swallowtail butterflies, with a wingspan of 5 inches or more.  Giant Swallowtail butterflies are brownish black with yellow stripes.  Their underside is yellow with black.  Since they rest with their wings open, they are lovely in displays.  When released, Giant Swallowtail butteflies exhibit a slow flight pattern.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Gulf Fritillary Butterflies

The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a medium size butterfly, with a wingspan of 2 ½” to 4 ¾”.  It has an orange and black palette, with an iridescent underside composed of silver spots.  The silver glistens in the sunlight.  The Gulf Fritillary butterfly flies quickly from flower to flower, taking a long time to nectar on each bloom.  Gulf Fritillary butterflies are more common to southern states, but can be found sometimes in more northerly states.