The butterflies in the sky.. fly high and bright..deep in the heart of Texas🎶

Close-up of a Monarch butterfly with orange and black wings resting on a surface.
Colorful orange butterfly with black spots and markings on its wings, positioned against a black background.
A black and blue butterfly with its wings spread open, showing intricate patterns and white dots on the blue lower wings.
Black swallowtail butterfly with yellow and blue markings on its wings, with red spots near the tail, isolated on a black background.
A black butterfly with yellow and red markings on its wings
A butterfly with black upper wings and white, orange, and black lower wings.
Close-up of a monarch butterfly with orange and black patterned wings resting on a black background.
A butterfly perched on a green leaf

Monarch
Danaus plexippus

Colors: Orange, black, white
When You’ll See It: March–June, September–November
Host Plant: Milkweed
Look-Alikes: Queen butterfly

Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 3–5 days
Caterpillar: 10–14 days
Chrysalis: 10–14 days
Adult: 2–6 weeks (up to 8 months for migrating generation)

Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab

Queen
Danaus gilippus

Colors: Brown, black, white
When You’ll See It: April–October
Host Plant: Milkweed
Look-Alikes: Monarch butterfly

Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 3–5 days
Caterpillar: 10–12 days
Chrysalis: 7–10 days
Adult: 2–4 weeks

Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab

Gulf Fritillary
Agraulis vanillae

Colors: Orange, black, silver
When You’ll See It: April–November
Host Plant: Passionvine
Look-Alikes: Monarch (in flight)

Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 3–6 days
Caterpillar: 11–18 days
Chrysalis: 7–10 days
Adult: 3–4 weeks

Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab

Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor

Colors: Blue, black, orange
When You’ll See It: March–October
Host Plant: Woolly pipevine
Look-Alikes: Mimicked by other butterflies for protection

Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 4–10 days
Caterpillar: 10–14 days
Chrysalis: 10–20 days
Adult: 6–14 days

Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab

Eastern Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes

Colors: Black, yellow, blue
When You’ll See It: March–October
Host Plants: Dill, fennel, parsley
Look-Alikes: Spicebush Swallowtail

Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 4–9 days
Caterpillar: 10–20 days
Chrysalis: 9–18 days
Adult: 2–4 weeks

Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab

Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus

Colors: Black, green, blue
When You’ll See It: March–October
Host Plants: Spicebush, sassafras
Look-Alikes: Eastern Black Swallowtail

Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 4–10 days
Caterpillar: 10–16 days
Chrysalis: 10–20 days
Adult: 10–14 days

Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab

Giant Swallowtail
Papilio cresphontes

Colors: Yellow, black
When You’ll See It: April–October
Host Plant: Citrus trees
Look-Alikes: None — largest butterfly in Texas

Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 3–5 days
Caterpillar: 10–14 days
Chrysalis: 10–14 days
Adult: 6–12 days

Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab

Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae

Colors: Bright yellow
When You’ll See It: April–October
Host Plant: Senna
Look-Alikes: Sleepy Orange

Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 3–5 days
Caterpillar: 10–14 days
Chrysalis: 10–15 days
Adult: 6–10 days

Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab