Since butterflies are considered potential plant pests, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and corresponding state agencies have the responsibility of regulating the butterfly breeding industry. USDA regulates and issues permits for breeding a limited number of butterfly species approved for release. The approval of species for release are also regulated by state agencies.
If you are thinking about releasing butterflies for a special occasion, it is important to consider all of the above mentioned factors. Contact your state agency to determine which species/types of butterflies are allowed for release in your area. And make sure that the organization from which you are receiving the butterflies has all the proper governmental permits.
Thank you for making an informed decision about butterfly releases. For more information, check out the North American Butterfly Association's release about this subject .
Plant Your Own Butterfly Garden
You can create a welcoming environment for butterflies in your own neighborhood. All it takes is water, a sunny location, and some good soil and space for plants.
Learn which butterflies live in your region. Use this guide and books from the library to discover how to attract native butterflies.
Learn which plants are native to your region. Butterflies depend on plants for their survival.
Provide plants that help butterflies survive. Different plants are needed during different stages of a butterflys life. Make sure you have food plants for caterpillars as well as flowering plants that provide nectar for adult butterflies.
Avoid using pesticides in your garden. If a garden is good for butterflies, it is also good for birds, other wildlife and you.
Some Food Plants for Caterpillars
| Trees |
Caterpillars |
| black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), quaking aspen (P. tremuloides) and willows (Salix spp.) |
western tiger swallowtail, mourning cloak and others (especially willows) |
| Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and pines (Pinus spp.) |
pine white |
| Garden Flowers and Ground Covers |
|
| hollyhock (Alcea rosea) |
painted lady, west coast lady |
| Kinnikinnik (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) |
spring azure, brown elfin |
| Vegetables |
|
| broccoli, cabbage (Brassica oleracae var.) |
cabbage white |
| beans (Phaseolu vulgaris var.) |
gray hairstreak |
| carrot, dill, fennel, parsley (Umbelliferae family) |
anise swallowtail |
| Common "Weedy" Species |
|
| nettle (Urtica lyallii) |
Milberts tortoiseshell, red admiral, satyr anglewing |
| clover (Trifolium spp.) |
common sulfur, orange sulfur |
Some Flowering Plants for Butterflies
| Plants |
Bloom Time |
mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii)
|
June/July |
| mountain balm (Ceanothus velutinus) |
April/May |
| pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) |
August/September |
| Garden Shrubs |
|
| butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) |
All summer |
| lilac (Syringa vulgaris) |
April/May |
| viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) |
April/May |
| Garden Flowers |
|
| bee balm (Monarda didyma) |
June/July |
| black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) |
All Summer |
| lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) |
June/July |
| phlox (Phlox paniculata) |
June- August |
| purple cornflower (Echinacea purpurea) |
July- September |
Information courtesy of Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA.
