BUTTERFLY LIVESTOCK AND HOST PLANTS
Livestock:
The Monarch Program raises a variety of native butterfly species for classroom projects, private individuals, public butterfly houses, and scientific studies. Most species are available during the spring, summer, and autumn months. More than 15 species are reared annually at the Butterfly Vivarium in Encinitas, California. Not all species are available at any given time (excluding monarchs). Prices are set depending on availability and quantity of livestock. Larvae of most species range from $2.00 - $5.00 each (according to size and species). Pupae range from $4.00 - $7.00. All prices are subject to change. All payments for livestock are considered a donation to our organization. We supply tips for breeding butterflies.
Native species of butterflies commonly reared at the Vivarium are listed below. The Monarch Program does not accept requests for mail order shipments of livestock outside of their natural range unless they are for public or private butterfly enclosures.
Family Danaidae
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
Queen (Danaus
gilippus strigosus)
Family Nymphalidae
Buckeye (Precis coenia)
Mourning
Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
Painted
Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Red
Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
West
Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)
Lorquin's
Admiral (Laments lorquini)
Family Pieridae
Alfalfa Butterfly (Colias eurytheme)
Cabbage
White (Artogeia rapae)
California
Dogface (Zerene eurydice)
Cloudless
Sulfur (Phoebis sennae marcellina)
Orange-Barred
Sulfur (Phoebis
philea)
Nicippe
Yellow (Eurema nicippe)
Family Heliconiidae
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae incarnata)
Family Papilionidae
Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)
Giant
Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
Pipevine
Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Host Plants:
The Monarch Program offers a variety of plants for native butterflies. We cultivate many different host plants and some flowering nectar plants. The price of all plants depends on availability, demand, and the time of year. Plants are sold in various sizes, from 6" pots to 10 gallon pots. Plants at the facility cost $2.00 to $18.00, depending on the size and species of the plant. The price of bare root plants for shipping ranges from $1.50 - $4.00 each (plus shipping). We also supply seeds of some plant species for a small fee.
Selected Host Plants Cultivated at the Monarch Program Facility are:
Baby's Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
for red admirals.
Common Rue (Ruta graveolens) for giant swallowtails.
False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) for the California dogface.
Flowery Senna (Cassia corymbosa) and Popcorn Senna (Cassia didymobotrya)
for cloudless sulfurs, the nicippe yellow, and marine blues.
Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica, and other spp.) for monarchs and queens.
Passion Vine (Passiflora caerulea and numerous hybrids) for gulf fritillaries.
Pipevine (Aristolochia fimbriata) for pipevine swallowtails.
Stinging Nettle (Urtica spp.) for red admirals, painted ladies, and
west coast ladies.
Sweet Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare, and other Carrot Family members)
for anise swallowtails.
Willow (Salix lasiolepis, and Salix babylonica) for mourning
cloaks and tiger swallowtails.
Selected Flowering Nectar Plants are Cultivated for the Butterfly Vivarium. Our most popular plants for the butterflies have been:
Asters, Chrysanthemums, and Marigolds.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia spp.)
Camara Lantana (Lantana camara) and Lilac Lantana (Lantana montevidensis)
Common Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) and Yellow Cosmos (Cosmos silphureus)
Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa spp.)
Star Clusters (Pentas lanceolata)