Which butterfly is the official state insect of California?

The California dogface butterfly is the official state insect of California.

California adopted the species as its state insect in 1972. Its common name comes from a yellow-and-black pattern on the male’s forewing that can resemble the profile of a dog’s face. Females are usually less brightly marked and may have several different forms, including a darker form that resembles the pipevine swallowtail.

The species is native to California and is scientifically known as Zerene eurydice. It is a member of the family Pieridae, the same family that includes many whites and sulphurs. Adults feed on flower nectar, while caterpillars eat plants in the genus Amorpha, including false indigo.

The California dogface is sometimes confused with the dogface butterfly of other regions, but Zerene eurydice is the species associated with California’s official designation. State insects are symbolic appointments, not measures of abundance or conservation status.