Backyard butterflies

These can be found in backyards and along streets throughout the city.

Anise Swallowtail

Papilio zelicaon

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio rutulus

Cabbage White

Pieris rapae

Echo Blue, or Spring Azure

Celastrina [ladon] echo

Red Admiral

Vanessa atalanta

Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui

West Coast Lady

Vanessa annabella

Umber Skipper

Poanes melane

Butterflies of open spaces

Look for these in the parks and open spaces of San Francisco. Some are very local!

Pipevine Swallowtail

Battus philenor

Large Marble

Euchloe ausonides

Orange Sulphur

Colias eurytheme

Coastal Green Hairstreak

Callophrys dumetorum (syn. viridis)

Acmon Blue

Plebejus acmon

Gulf Fritillary

Agraulis vanillae

American Lady

Vanessa virginiensis

Field Crescent

Phyciodes pulchellus (syn. campestris)

California Tortiseshell

Nymphalis californica

Mourning Cloak

Nymphalis antiopa

Common Buckeye

Junonia coenia

California [Common] Ringlet

Coenonympha [tullia] california

Monarch

Danaus plexippus

Common Checkered-Skipper

Pyrgus communis

Fiery Skipper

Hylephila phyleus

Sandhill Skipper

Polites sabuleti

Woodland Skipper

Ochlodes sylvanoides

Rare (in SF) butterflies

A number of these can be easily found on San Bruno Mountain, or elsewhere in the bay area, sometimes even abundantly, but all are difficult to find in San Francisco.

Gray Hairstreak

Strymon melinus

Western Pygmy-Blue

Brephidium exile

Silvery Blue

Glaucopsyche lygdamus

California Sister

Adelpha bredowii

Variable (or Chalcedon) Checkerspot

Euphydryas chalcedona

Mylitta Crescent

Phyciodes mylitta

Rural Skipper

Ochlodes agricola

Accidental species

These have been recorded in San Francisco, but only as rare strays.

Checkered White

Pontia protodice

Funereal Duskywing

Erynnis funeralis

San Bruno specialties

Callippe Fritillary

Speyeria callippe callippe

San Bruno Elfin

Callophrys mossii

Brown Elfin

Callophrys augustinus

"Mission" Boisduval's Blue

Plebejus icarioides missionensis