National Forest is probably the safest.
Arizona is interesting, as if you're collecting over a certain quantity you need a permit.
However, it's also important to note that usually collecting as a hobbiest is unrestricted. Except for National Parks/Refuges.
State parks are usually fine. Just check in with the ranger in advance to make sure there's nothing endangered to look out for.
For hobbyist collecting, typically you don't need a permit except for a handful of specific states and of course National Parks and monuments.
Most species require permits if you are you transport or ship live across a state line.
For Papilio machaon sp oregonius I hand pair, then feed twice a day 20% honey for two days and keep the females in glassine envelopes in the dark during this time.
On the third day I place them in a pop-up tent in a sunny and warm location directly over live hostplant outside. They lay very well. It's important for the hostplant to be fresh young shoots so they are soft...otherwise the females get to much wing damage and aren't able to be wild released later.
If the days are a bit cool, a sheet of clear plastic over the pop-up tent increases the temperature nicely to help with laying. Just be careful of temps in the tent or you may cook the butterflies.
I have them lay a total of three days before wild releasing, and I also give them a day off between laying days. This day off is in a glassine envelope in the dark, again fed twice daily the honey solution. I've found that the 24 hour rest between laying increases egg production and also leads to healthier females to release once the three days of laying are complete.
After seven total days, two waiting in the dark...three laying...and two days in the dark between laying...females are still healthy and are wild released. Many come back to my garden to lay more eggs.
It looks a bit like sumac...or in that family at least.
Yes, UV lamps work well. As long as there's a good amount of UV spectrum you'll do fine.
MV lights work well also. They're bright, and have a good amount of UV.
Stephen E. Stone lists the following food plants in his book, "Foodplants of
World Saturniidae": (worth a try)
Althaea rosa
Apium graveolens
Azadirachta indica
Berberis
Carica papaya
Carpinus betulus
Cassia fistula
Cinnamomum camphorum RJ
Coriaria nepalensis
Cornus.
Euodia fraxinifolia
Firmiana simplex
Forsythia
Gmelina arborea
Heteropanax fragrans
Ilex chinensis
Jatropha curcas
Juglans cinerea
Juglans regia
Lagerstroemia indica
Lawsonia alba
Lindera benzoin
Manihot ultissima
Michelia figo
Plumaria acuminata
Pyrus malus
Ricinus communis
Syringa vulgaris
Tilia
Zanthoxylum acanthopodium.....
Zanthoxylum hostile
Zanthopodium alatum
Zizaphus jujuba
Chinese Tree of Heaven
Hollyhock
Celery
Persian lilac
Barberry
Pawpaw
European hornbeam
Indian laburnum
Camphor
Tanner's tree
Dogwood
Poyam
Chinese parasol tree
Golden-bells
Ash
Gomari
Keseru
Kashi holly
Barbados nut
Butternut
English walnut
Crapemyrtle
Indian privet
Privet
Spicebush
Sweetgum
Tuliptree/White poplar
Cassava/Tapioca plant
Banana shrub
Sycamore
Temple tree
Wild black cherry
Apple
Staghorn sumac
Castor-oil bean
Willow
Sassafra
Common lilac
Basswood/Lime/Linden
Ash
Zanthoxylum
Zanthopodium
Zizaphus jujuba
