Butterflies Flying in California in May (60 Species)

60 butterflies were recorded flying in California in May in our iNaturalist sample; 6 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Top butterflies in May

Variable Checkerspot6,925 obs.

Monarch6,020 obs.

Gray Buckeye3,841 obs.

Umber Skipper3,474 obs.

Mourning Cloak3,401 obs.

Painted Lady2,834 obs.

Western Tiger Swallowtail2,825 obs.

California Sister2,470 obs.

Anise Swallowtail2,381 obs.

Acmon Blue2,336 obs.

Small White2,228 obs.

Pale Swallowtail2,217 obs.

All butterflies flying in California in May

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Variable Checkerspot	Euphydryas chalcedona	Brush-footed Butterflies	6,925	May (peak)
2	Monarch	Danaus plexippus	Brush-footed Butterflies	6,020	Jul (rising)
3	Gray Buckeye	Junonia grisea	Brush-footed Butterflies	3,841	Jun (rising)
4	Umber Skipper	Lon melane	Skippers	3,474	May (peak)
5	Mourning Cloak	Nymphalis antiopa	Brush-footed Butterflies	3,401	Apr (past peak)
6	Painted Lady	Vanessa cardui	Brush-footed Butterflies	2,834	Apr (past peak)
7	Western Tiger Swallowtail	Papilio rutulus	Swallowtails and Parnassians	2,825	Jun (rising)
8	California Sister	Adelpha californica	Brush-footed Butterflies	2,470	Jun (rising)
9	Anise Swallowtail	Papilio zelicaon	Swallowtails and Parnassians	2,381	Jun (rising)
10	Acmon Blue	Icaricia acmon	Gossamer-winged Butterflies	2,336	Jul (rising)
11	Small White	Pieris rapae	Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs	2,228	Jul (rising)
12	Pale Swallowtail	Papilio eurymedon	Swallowtails and Parnassians	2,217	Jun (rising)
13	California Tortoiseshell	Nymphalis californica	Brush-footed Butterflies	1,975	May (peak)
14	Lorquin's Admiral	Limenitis lorquini	Brush-footed Butterflies	1,943	Jun (rising)
15	Common Ringlet	Coenonympha california	Brush-footed Butterflies	1,583	Apr (past peak)
16	Echo Azure	Celastrina echo	Gossamer-winged Butterflies	1,510	Jun (rising)
17	Northern Checkerspot	Chlosyne palla	Brush-footed Butterflies	1,402	May (peak)
18	Gray Hairstreak	Strymon melinus	Gossamer-winged Butterflies	1,353	Aug (rising)
19	Marine Blue	Leptotes marina	Gossamer-winged Butterflies	1,223	Jul (rising)
20	Behr's Metalmark	Apodemia virgulti	Metalmark Butterflies	1,183	May (peak)
21	Red Admiral	Vanessa atalanta	Brush-footed Butterflies	1,146	Apr (past peak)
22	Gulf Fritillary	Dione vanillae	Brush-footed Butterflies	1,113	Sep (rising)
23	West Coast Lady	Vanessa annabella	Brush-footed Butterflies	1,081	Apr (past peak)
24	Mylitta Crescent	Phyciodes mylitta	Brush-footed Butterflies	1,063	Jun (rising)
25	Fiery Skipper	Hylephila phyleus	Skippers	1,042	Sep (rising)
26	Checkered White	Pontia protodice	Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs	1,035	Jun (rising)
27	Sara Orangetip	Anthocharis sara	Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs	910	Apr (past peak)
28	Propertius Duskywing	Erynnis propertius	Skippers	835	Apr (past peak)
29	Bernardino Blue	Euphilotes bernardino	Gossamer-winged Butterflies	819	Jun (rising)
30	Rural Skipper	Ochlodes agricola	Skippers	735	Jun (rising)
31	Orange Sulphur	Colias eurytheme	Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs	723	Oct (rising)
32	Western Pygmy-Blue	Brephidium exilis	Gossamer-winged Butterflies	607	Oct (rising)
33	Boisduval's Blue	Icaricia icarioides	Gossamer-winged Butterflies	589	Jun (rising)
34	Mournful Duskywing	Erynnis tristis	Skippers	547	Aug (rising)
35	Brown Elfin	Callophrys augustinus	Gossamer-winged Butterflies	535	Apr (past peak)
36	Field Crescent	Phyciodes pulchella	Brush-footed Butterflies	517	Jun (rising)
37	American Lady	Vanessa virginiensis	Brush-footed Butterflies	501	Jul (rising)
38	Funereal Duskywing	Erynnis funeralis	Skippers	475	Mar (past peak)
39	Northern White-Skipper	Heliopetes ericetorum	Skippers	423	Jun (rising)
40	Western Giant Swallowtail	Heraclides rumiko	Swallowtails and Parnassians	390	Sep (rising)
41	Hedgerow Hairstreak	Satyrium saepium	Gossamer-winged Butterflies	380	Jun (rising)
42	Edith's Checkerspot	Euphydryas editha	Brush-footed Butterflies	309	May (peak)
43	Margined White	Pieris marginalis	Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs	303	Mar (past peak)
44	Silvery Blue	Glaucopsyche lygdamus	Gossamer-winged Butterflies	298	Mar (past peak)
45	Queen	Danaus gilippus	Brush-footed Butterflies	293	Oct (rising)
46	Common Checkered-Skipper	Burnsius communis	Skippers	256	Oct (rising)
47	Satyr Comma	Polygonia satyrus	Brush-footed Butterflies	239	Jun (rising)
48	Lotus Hairstreak	Callophrys dumetorum	Gossamer-winged Butterflies	239	Apr (past peak)
49	White Checkered-Skipper	Burnsius albezens	Skippers	227	Oct (rising)
50	Callippe Fritillary	Argynnis callippe	Brush-footed Butterflies	219	Jun (rising)