USDA Rules

USDA Permits - Transportation of Butterflies Across State Lines

Scroll down for a list of butterflies that the United States Department of Agriculture allows to be shipped into your state from Florida.Shady Oak Butterfly Farm holds permits to ship these butterflies into your state.

Butterflies are considered 'plant pests'. The Cabbage White is a butterfly imported from England. This butterfly is one reason farmers use chemicals on their plants. Obviously, they are a pest for cabbage farmers!
We only ship butterflies which are permitted to be shipped out of Florida. The Mourning Cloak is the only butterfly permitted for transportation that is not allowed from or into Florida.

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly
Agraulis vanillae

Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus

Zebra Longwing
Heliconius charithonia

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
Papilio cresphontes

Eastern Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes

Red Admiral Butterfly
Vanessa atalanta

Painted Lady Butterfly
Vanessa carduii

American Painted Lady Butterfly
Vanessa virginensis

The USDA governs transportation of butterflies across state lines.
Below is a list of species which are allowed to be shipped into your state.

GF Gulf Fritillary; M Monarch; ZL Zebra Longwing; GS Giant Swallowtail;
BS Black Swallowtail; RA Red Admiral; PL Painted Lady; AL American Lady

Alabama GF, M, ZL, GS, BS, RA, PL, AL
Alaska RA, PL AL
Arizona GF GS RA PL AL
Arkansas GF M GS RA PL AL
California GF RA PL AL
Colorado *M BS RA PL AL
Connecticut M BS RA PL AL
Delaware M BS RA PL AL
Florida Shady Oak is located in Florida. Any Florida species can be shipped.
Georgia GF M ZL GS BS RA PL AL
Hawaii none
Idaho RA PL AL
Illinois GF M GS BS RA PL AL
Indiana GF M GS BS RA PL AL
Iowa GF M GS BS RA PL AL
Kansas GF M GS BS RA PL AL
Kentucky GF M GS BS RA PL AL
Louisiana GF M BS RA PL AL
Maine M BS RA PL AL
Maryland M RA PL AL
Massachusetts M BS RA PL AL
Michigan M BS RA PL AL
Minnesota M BS RA PL AL
Mississippi GF M GS A PL AL
Missouri GF M GS RA PL AL
Montana RA PL AL
Nebraska GF M BS RA PL AL
Nevada RA PL AL
New Hampshire M BS RA PL AL
New Jersey M GS BS RA PL AL
New Mexico GF *M GS BS RA AL
New York M BS RA PL AL
North Carolina GF M GS BS RA PL AL
North Dakota M RA PL AL
Ohio GF M GS BS RA PL AL
Oklahoma GF M GS BS RA PL AL
Oregon RA PL AL
Pennsylvania GF M GS BS RA PL AL
Puerto Rico None
Rhode Island M BS RA PL AL
South Carolina GF M ZL GS BS RA PL AL
South Dakota M BS RA PL AL
Tennessee GF M GS BS RA PL AL
Texas GF M GS BS RA PL AL
Utah RA PL AL
Vermont M BS RA PL AL
Virginia GF M GS BS RA PL AL
Washington State GS BS RA PL AL
West Virginia M GS BS RA PL AL
Wisconson M BS RA PL AL
Wyoming *M RA PL AL
Washington DC GF M RA PL AL
Virgin Islands None
Guam None


** States west of the Continental Divide will receive Monarch larvae dropshipped from a butterfly farm on the western side of the Continental Divide. The USDA does not allow shipment of Monarchs across the divide.