What turns from a caterpillar into a flying insect? A butterfly!
Butterflies in Arizona are insects that go through a process called complete metamorphosis. They begin life as tiny eggs, hatch into caterpillars
and spend this stage eating and growing. Then they form a chrysalis, where their bodies transform before they emerge as beautiful, winged adult butterflies.
Arizona is home to many different kinds of butterflies because the state has a variety of habitats, from deserts and grasslands to mountains and forests. Adult butterflies usually feed on flower nectar, while caterpillars eat specific plants. Caterpillars are also an important source of food for birds and other animals, especially growing baby birds that need lots of protein and fat.
Butterflies are harmless to people. They cannot bite, sting, or inject venom. Male butterflies can even use special wing scales called androconia to release scents that help attract females. Their wings are covered with tiny scales that give them their colors and patterns. These scales are not living tissue and can sometimes rub off without killing the butterfly.
Here’s all to know about butterflies in Arizona.
Is it butterfly season in Arizona?
We talked to Kathleen Prudic, associate professor and associate director of the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona, who told us that butterflies can be seen throughout the year.
“Butterflies live in Arizona throughout the entire year. Most of the butterfly's life is spent as an egg, caterpillar, or pupa. But you can see adult butterflies during any month depending on where you are and how they hibernate. Some species hibernate as adults and will wake up on warm winter days and fly around,” said Prudic.
What is the most common butterfly?
Prudic explains that there are about 340 consistent species of butterflies in Arizona. She also mentions that there are opportunities to spot rare or vagrant species being observed unexpectedly when a hurricane or tropical storm rumbles through.
“Exact species numbers are challenging because the names of species are not entirely agreed upon by scientists since new species happen, and we don't have a consistent monitoring system to know exactly how many butterfly species are in Arizona year-round,” said Prudic.
The most common butterfly will be relative to where you live and what you pay attention to.
“I see many Marine Blue butterflies on my daily walks, but other folks in Tucson might see pipevine swallowtails, queen butterflies, or this week, American snout butterflies. My friends wandering the canyons of the Huachuca Mtns see Arizona sisters and two-tailed swallowtails, also the Arizona state insect,” said Prudic.
She also mentioned that her fly-fishing-focused friends in the White Mountains would be chased by buckeye butterflies, Weidemeyer's admiral, mourning cloaks and the White Mountain copper.
“As long as the sun is out, butterflies love sun and sugar, otherwise, they don't get out of bed,” she said.
What is the lifespan of a butterfly?
According to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, the length of the complete life cycle varies, ranging from weeks to a couple of years or more in desert-adapted species. The lifespan of an adult butterfly varies as well, from merely a few days or weeks to as long as several months.
Are there monarch butterflies in Arizona?
Yes, you can spot Monarchs as they pass through Arizona during their fall migration from September through mid-October and spring migration. Small groups spend the winter in warm lower desert areas like Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Lake Havasu City instead of flying all the way to California or Mexico.
You can spot them in riparian areas, local parks, backyards with milkweed, and at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.
Is it rare to see a monarch butterfly?
In Arizona, it is not rare to see a Monarch butterfly since Arizona sits in a major migratory crossroads for both eastern and western monarch populations.
What month are butterflies most active?
Prudic says that the Sonoran Desert parts of Arizona have basically two springs, one in March post-winter rains, and one in September post-monsoon.
“For other parts of Arizona, you will see the most butterflies in March, the Mojave desert, or July in the mountains, with a May high point for mid elevation chaparral,” said Prudic.
What does it mean when a butterfly will not leave you alone?
Butterflies can be attracted to certain things and as Prudic explains, butterflies see with different eyes than people do.
“They have the compound eyes common in insects so they aren't as good as seeing movement, but pretty darn good at shape and color. Indeed, flowers and other butterflies have fabulous patterns that attract the visual attention of butterflies,” said Prudic.
Besides seeing differently, butterflies also smell and taste differently than us, too.
“Their nose is on their feet. They use chemical receptors on their feet, legs, and antennae to taste and smell their surroundings. From these chemical receptors, butterflies are really good at detecting perfumes on the wind. You will see them flying very directly against the wind, dipping and diving to find a smelly plant to eat or a willing mate to flirt with,” said Prudic.
What butterflies are native to Arizona?
There are hundreds of butterflies that are native to Arizona. Here are a few according to Arizona State Parks:
- Gossamer-wing Butterflies.
- Metalmarks.
- Brushfoots.
- Snouts.
- Swallowtails.
- Queen Butterfly.
- Arizona Sister.
- Empress Leilia.
- Marine Blue.
- Bordered Patch.
- Tiny Checkerspot.
- Painted Lady Butterfly.
- Echo Azure.
What US state has the most butterflies?
Texas takes the crown for the most native butterflies, with over 400 species, but right behind is Arizona with over 330 species.
What is the state butterfly for Arizona?
According to the Arizona Library, Arizona's state butterfly is the two-tailed swallowtail butterfly, a large, bright yellow butterfly with black stripes.
Where do butterflies go at night?
Almost all butterflies are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and rest at night, which means you’ll find butterflies hanging motionless under leaves or hiding inside tree bark crevices to rest and stay safe from predators.
Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Tiffany.Acosta@gannett.com. Follow @tiffsario on Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why Arizona is one of the best states in America for butterflies
