Desert Southwest Region

There is likely more butterfly biodiversity in the Desert Southwest than in any other region in the United States.  Within populated cities and subarbs of this region, practical butterflies to rear include the gulf fritillary, monarch, queen, cloudless sulfur, sleepy orange, western tiger swallowtail, painted lady, and other butterflies.

In SE Arizona, mourning cloak and arizona purple larvae can be found during the spring months feeding on willows whereas eggs and larvae of the sleepy orange can be easy to find following summer monsoons desert and others senna.  It also is not too difficult to find eggs and larvae of giant swallowtails on new growth of citrus trees growing right in Phoenix and Tucson proper.

Southern California butterflies that can be fun to raise include the painted lady, west coast lady, gulf fritillary, and anise swallowtail. 

Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
The Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
The Queen (Danaus gilippus thersippus)
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae incarnata)
The Buckeye (Precis coenia grisea)
Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia crocale)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
West Coast Lady (Vanessa carye)