FIELD TRIPS AND EASY STROLLS
 

Canon de Nacapule, Sonora - Labor Day Weekend Field Trip, 2000  Leslie King

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Note for all field trips: Beginners are welcome on all field trips and easy strolls. A donation of $5 per person ($3.00 for the Easy Strolls) to benefit SEABA will be appreciated. Leaders donate their time and expertise.  We will carpool as much as possible. High clearance vehicles may be necessary on some trips. Remember to share gas expenses.  Always dress for the field; because we will be walking and exploring on rough terrain, wear sturdy shoes. Be sure to bring a hat, plenty of water, sunscreen and lunch and a pair of binoculars (close focus if possible).
For details and to register, if requested to do so, in Tucson contact Sue Bridgemon at 520-744-2243/ azcaver@earthlink.net .  In Cochise County contact Hank Brodkin at 520-803-9700/ hbrodkin@cox.net. 

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SEABA is now offering butterfly watching  opportunities that are shorter in time and do not demand strenuous physical activity.   Watch this site for a schedule of these EASY STROLLS.   For Information and registration, if requested, contact Sue Bridgemon  (see above).

REPORTS OF PAST FIELD TRIPS AND EASY STROLLS

On March 15 SEABA had a field trip to Patagonia Lake State Park.  The temperature was in the low 70's clear to partly cloudy.  We were there from 9:00AM to 1:00PM.
The Willow Ragwort (Senecio salignus)was in bloom attracting most of the 12 species of butterflies that were seen, including a good flight of Texan Crescent.  Also attracted to this plant was an impressive number of Pacific Forktails, the only odonates seen.
Species:
Pipevine Swallowtail (10)
Orange Sulphur (2)
Dainty Sulphur (1)
American Snout (5)
Gulf Fritillary (1)
Texan Crescent (40+)
Mourning Cloak (1)
American Lady (1)
Red Admiral (1)
Funereal Duskywing (4)
Golden-headed Scallopwing (3)
Desert Checkered-Skipper (1)

Easy Stroll -- Tour de Mistletoe in Sabino Canyon March 7, 2008

Five SEABA members met at Sabino Canyon for a wonderful warm day with good numbers and variety of butterflies flying.  We walked the paved road up to a point just past the first bridge where a stand of cress attracted a number of orangetips last year.  The cress is there, but the orangetips were not using it as much on this day.  Sixteen species were seen, including:
>
> Sara Orangetip
> Desert "Pima" Orangetip
> Southern Dogface
> Sleepy Orange
> Dainty Sulphur
> Spring Azure
> American Snout
> Gulf Fritillary
> Tiny Checkerspot
> Mourning Cloak
> Red Admiral
> Empress Leilia
> Queen
> Arizona Powdered Skipper
> Checkered Skipper (fleeting glimpse, not sure of species) Common
> Streaky Skipper

On October 13 the Southeast Arizona and the Central Arizona Butterfly Associations had their first joint field trip to garden Canyon on Fort Huachuca.  The sky was clear, temperature in the low 70's, with some wind in the morning and calm in the afternoon.   33 species were seen.  Notable was only one Huachuca Giant Skipper - a noticeable drop in numbers for this species which seems to have hit a population low this year. A Tropical Leafwing and Dorantes Longtail were also seen. There was a good flight of both mail and female Chiricahua Whites.

Species list:

On May 19 SEABA had it's field trip down through Box Canyon in Pima County, starting at the Greaterville Road.  Clear skies, light breezes and temperatures from 75 - 85 degrees made for a beautiful day.  Nectar sources included bebbia, threadleaf sennicio, wait-a-minute bush, sweet-bush acacia, mesquite and desert honeysuckle.  28 species were seen including Arizona Powdered-Skipper, Sheep Skipper and Python Skipper.

Species seen:
Pipevine Swallowtail.
Checkered White.
Southern Dogface.
Cloudless Sulphur.
Mexican Yellow.
Sleepy Orange.
Dainty Sulphur.
Gray Hairstreak.
Marine Blue.
Reakirt's Blue.
Mormon Metalmark.
Variegated Fritillary.
Theona Checkerspot.
Bordered Patch.
Tiny Checkerspot.
Painted Lady.
American Lady.
Red-spotted Purple.
Arizona Sister.
Empress Leilia.
Queen.
Desert Cloudywing.
Golden-headed Scallopwing.
White/Common Checkered-Skipper.
Arizona Powdered-Skipper.
Orange Skipperling.
Sheep Skipper.
Python Skipper.

April 29 we had a field trip into Garden Canyon.  The weather was pleasant and there was plenty of nectar - but the numbe of individual butterflies was quite low.  We did see about 24 species, the most noteworthy were Eastern Tailed-Blue and  Dotted Roadside-Skipper.

Pipevine Swallowtail
Funereal Duskywing
Gray Hairstreak
Marine Blue
Nabokov's Satyr
Red Spotted Purple
Two Tailed Swallowtail
Short Tailed Skipper
Variegated Fritillary
American Lady
Eastern Tailed Blue
Zela Metalmark
Bordered Patch
Orange Skipperling
Common/White Checkered Skipper
Juniper Hairstreak - Siva
Golden Headed Scallopwing
Reakirt's Blue
Dainty Sulphur
Southern Dogface
Dotted Roadside Skipper
Tropical Buckeye
Orange Sulphur
Arizona Hairstreak (VERY worn)

March 27 - 30, the SouthEast Arizona Butterfly Association took their annual spring trip to Sonora.  Logistics and transportation were supplied by Mark Pretti Nature Tours.  Our route extended down the Ruta Sonora (RS) to Hermosillo, the first day.  The second day we went to San Carlos (SC) both on the beach and in Nacapule Canyon.  On the third day we went up 16 and butterflied towards Yecora (Y), and on the fourth day we headed home (H)making a couple of stops on the way to Hermosillo.  The weather was comfortably cool and mostly clear.

We saw 63 species compared to the 50 identified last year - though the number of individuals was way down.  Also 113 bird species were seen.

Pipevine Swallowtail B. philenor (all 4 days).

Giant Swallowtail H. cresphontes (all 4 days).

Two-tailed Swallowtail P. multicaudata (RS).

Great Southern White A. monuste (SC, Y).

Checkered White P. protodice (RS, H).

Southern Dogface (RS, SC, Y).

Sleepy Orange A. nicippe (RS, Y, H).

Tailed orange P. proterpia (RS)

Lyside Sulphur K. lyside (SC).

Dainty Sulphur N. iole (RS, Y).

Large Orange Sulphur P. agarithe (SC).

Cloudless Sulphur P. senae (RS, Y, H).

Boisduval's Yellow E. boisduvaliana (SC, Y, H)

Mimosa Yellow P. nise (RS, Y, H).

Sonoran Hairstreak H. critola (SC).

Western Pygmy-Blue B. exilis (RS, SC).

Ceraunus Blue H. ceraunus (all 4 days)

Marine Blue L. marina (SC, Y, H).

Hepburn's Metalmark A. hepburni (Y, H).

Mormon Metalmark A. mormo (Y).

Fatal Metalmark C. nemisis (all 4 days).

Thorn-scrub Metalmark E. poeas (Y).

Common Mestra M. amymone (SC, Y).

Blackened Bluewing M. cyanthe (Y, H).

Tropical Buckeye J. nigrosuffusa (RS, Y, H).

Tiny Checkerspot A. texana (RS).

Elada Checkerspot T. elada (RS).

Glaucous Cracker H. glauconome (SC, Y).

Texan Crescent A. texana (all 4 days).

Pearl Crescent P. tharos (SC).

Empress Leilia A. leilia (SC, H).

Mexican Fritillary E. hegesia (Y, H).

Red Admiral V. atalanta (SC, Y).

Painted Lady V. cardui (RS).

Gulf Fritillary A. vanillae (Y).

Queen D. gilippus (RS, SC, Y).

Monarch D. plexxipus (H).

Boisduval's Owl O. boisduvali(Y).

Rosita Patch C. rosita(Y).

American Snout L. carinenta (RS, SC, Y).

Mottled Bolla B. clytius (RS)

Golden-headed Scallopwing  Staphylus ceos (S).

White Checkered-Skipper P. albescens (RS).

Tropical Checkered-Skipper P. oleus (Y).

Desert Checkered-Skipper P. philetas (H).

White-edged Cloudywing A. albociliatus (Y, H).

White-patched Duskywing C. ascychis (Y, H).

Funereal Duskywing E. funeralis (RS, Y).

Fritzgaertner's Flat C. fritzgaertneri (Y).

White-striped Longtail C. albofasciatus(SC, Y).

Zilpa Longtail C. zilpa (SC, Y).

Dorantes Longtail U. dorantes (SC, Y, H).

Texas Powdered-Skipper S. pulverulenta (Y).

Arizona Powdered-Skipper S. zampa (SC)

Common Streaky-Skipper C. nessus (Y).

Laviana White-Skipper H. laviana (RS).

Erichson's White-Skipper H. domicella (Y, H).

Cestus Skipper A. cestus (Y).

Orange Skipperling C. aurantiacus (RS, SC).

Southern Skipperling C. minimus (RS).

Clouded Skipper (Y)

SEABA had a field trip on July 22 in Garden Canyon - mainly to see odonates.  It was led by Bob Behrstock.
Numbers of species of both odonates and butterflies are increasing though conditions were quite dry.
31 butterfly species and 10 Odonate species were seen:
Canyon Rubyspot         1
Great Spreadwing        3
Lavender Dancer          approx 5
Sierra Madre Dancer   approx 15
Springwater Dancer     approx. 40
Tonto Dancer                approx 8
Painted Damsel            approx 8
 
 
Apache Spiketail          1
Flame Skimmer            3
Red Rock Skimmer      approx 4
 
Butterflies seen:
Pipevine Swallowtail - 3
Two-tailed Swallowtail - 2
Sleepy Orange - 2
Juniper Hairstreak - 2
Ceraunus Blue - 3
Marine Blue - 2
Zela Metalmark - 2
American Snout - 1
Theona Checkerspot - 2
Bordered Patch - 5
Tiny Checkerspot - 1
Red Admiral - 1
Red-spotted Purple - 1
Arizona Sister - 11
Red Satyr - 1
Dull Firetip - 3
Golden-banded Skipper - 1
Desert Cloudywing - 1
Northern Cloudywing - app. 15
Drusius Cloudywing - app 9
Acacia Cloudywing - app 7
Gold-costa Skipper - 2
Golden-headed Scallopwing - app 8
Funereal Duskywing - 3
Common Sootywing - 1
Orange Skipperling - 4
Taxiles Skipper - 5
Large Roadside-Skipper - 5
Cassus Roadside-Skipper - 1
Bronze Roadside-Skipper - 3
Nysa Roadside-Skipper - 1

Our Mt. Graham Field Trip on June 17 yielded 24 species - although numbers of individuals are way down.  The area was quite dry - even some of the meadows at higher elevations.  However some nectar was available.  The most interesting butterflies were a Thicket Hairstreak, a Leda Ministreak and one Atlantis Fritillary all at Hospital Flat and the great number of Mexican Cloudywings.

On April 15 we had our Box Canyon Field Trip.  Conditions were very dry.  Most Mesquites had not yet leafed out.  The temerature varied from 68 - 75 degrees.  The only obvious flower in bloom was Desert Honeysuckle (Anisacanthus thurberi).

Twelve Species were seen:
Pipevine Swallowtail - 20
Mexican Yellow - 1
Great Purple Hairsteak - 1
Juniper Hairstreak - 1
Marine Blue - 2
American Snout - 1
Mourning Cloak - 1
Sleepy Duskywing - 2
Mournful Duskywing - 1
Golden-headed Scallopwing - 8
White-barred Skipper - 13
Orange Skipper(ling) - 1

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On the April 8 easy stroll there were dozens of pipevine swallowtails at the Colossal Cave Mountain Park butterfly garden, a couple of black
swallowtails, and one fatal metalmark.  However, the photo opportunities were very good, as the garden was a beacon for them all and they hung around quite a while.  We took a walk along the Bundrick trail near the stream bottom and found an orange skipperling and several Texan crescents.  The same situation applied; plenty of time and plenty of room to get close for good photos.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Cindy Bethard

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      Between the drought and the cool morning temperatures, the only butterflies that were seen by the six members attending the March 23 Easy Stroll at Tohono Chul were Pipevine Swallowtail, Eufala Skipper, Texan Crescent and Marine Blue. We did have some fine looks at Lucy's Warblers thanks to Bob Behrstock's good spotting. However those who ate breakfast at the Tea Room had a thoroughly enjoyable meal. And Tohono Chul was awash in all the wildflowers that we did not see elsewhere this spring. Libby Sullivan

 

 

Last week, March 26 to 29,  SEABA had it’s first ever spring Sonoran butterfly trip.  Mark Pretti Nature Tours provided the logistics and the van.  We would like to thank Mark for doing a great time seeing we were all taken care of and co-leading.

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Sonora was burned brown – very dry. Nectar sources and mudding spots were few and far between and butterflies were relatively scarce. Also the famed baccharis strip on Ruta 16 has been macheted down and may take a few years to come back.  Our route took us down the Sonora River Valley with stops at the vado  and hilltop south of Baviacora.  There was no sign of Sonoran Marble Euchloe guaymasensis– nor the mustard it feeds on.  Mottled Bolla Bolla clytius was out in numbers here and throughout the weekend.  The next day was spent on the beach below San Carlos and Nacapule Canyon.  The beach yielded Howarth’s White Ganyra howarthi and the dry season form of Sonora Hairstreak Hypostrymon critola.  The following days were spent going up Ruta 16 with an overnight in Yecora.  Among the stops were a flowering shrub of pink composites near K154, the famous palm canyon and the stream at Tecopa.  Ceanothus was blooming on the slope down into Yecora – but since we passed it late in the afternoon and early in the morning we could not check it for butterflies.  Some interesting species along 16 were White and Yellow Angled-Sulfurs Anteos chlorinde and maerula, Hepburn’s Metalmark Apodemia hepburni, Thron-scrub Metalmark Emesis poeas, three species of Hamadryas, Blackened Bluewing Mycelia cyanthe, Blomfeld’s Beauty Smyrna blomfeldi, Fritzgaertner’s Flat Celaeborrhinus fritzgaertneri and Equal Scallopwing Staphylus iguala.

Here is the complete list. S = Sonora River Valley, SC = beach at San Carlos, N = Nacapule Canyon, R16 = spots along Ruta 16, P = Palm Canyon on R16, T = creek in the town of Tecopa.  Scientific names are based partly on: 2004, Lamas, Gerardo; Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera: Checklist Part 4A; Scientific Publishers, Gainseville, Florida.

 

Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor  S, R16

Giant Swallowtail Heraclides cresphontes S

Great Southern White Ascia monuste SC

Howarth’s White Ganyra howarthi SC

White Angled-Sulfur Anteos Chlorinde R16, T

Yellow Angled-Sulfur Anteos Maerula T, R16

Tailed Orange Pyristia proterpa S

Large Orange Sulfur Phoebis arganthe R16

Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae R16

Boisduval’s Yellow Eurema (arbela) boisduvaliana all

Mimosa Yellow Pyrisitia nise all

Sonoran Hairstreak Hyporstrymon critola SC

Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus R16

Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exilis SC

Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus all

Marine Blue Leptotes marina all

Hepburn’s Metalmark Apodemia hepburni R16

Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis S

Thorn-scrub Metalmark Emesis poeas T

Blomfeld’s Beauty Smyrna blomfeldi R16

Blackened Bluewing Mycelia cyanthe R16

Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas S

Black-patched Cracker Hamadryas atlantis R16

Gray Cracker H. februa R16

Glaucous Cracker H. glauconome S, R16

Texan Crescent Anthanassa texana S, R16

Tropical Leafwing Anae (troglodyte) aidea R16

Queen Danaus gillipus N

American Snout Libytheana carinenta S, R16

Mottled Bolla Bolla clytius S, R16, T

Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos S, T

Equal Scallopwing  Staphylus iguala R16

Tropical Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus oileus T

White-edged Skipper Achalarus albociliatus T

White-patched Skipper Chiomara asychis R16

Funereal Skipper Erynnides funeralis S, R16

Fritzgaertner’s Flat Celaenorrhinus fritzgaertneri T

White-striped Longtail Chiodes albofaciatus T

Texas Powdered-Skipper Systasea pulverulenta R16, T

Arizona Powdered-Skipper S. zampa R16

Potrillo Skipper Cabares portrillo R16

Laviana White-Skipper Heliopetes laviana R16, T

Erichson’s White-Skipper H. domicella R16

Cestus Skipper Atrytonopsis cestus R16

Orange Skipper Copaeodes auranfiacus T

Clouded Skipper Lerema accius R16

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November 4, 2005 Field Trip - from Hank Brodkin

We had a beautiful day with 32 species on Rabbitbrush including two Mexican Fritillaries and a late Palmer's Metalmark.

The location was Garden Wash on the San Pedro River National Conservation Area east of Sierra Vista.

 

Checkered White

Orange Sulphur

Southern Dogface

Cloudless Sulphur

Lyside Sulphur

Mexican Yellow

Tailed Orange

Sleepy Orange

Dainty Sulphur

Great Purple Hairstreak

Gray Hairstreak

Leda Ministreak

Western Pygmy Blue

Ceraunus Blue

Reakirt's Blue

Fatal Metalmark

Palmer's Metalmark  Late?

American Snout

Gulf Fritillary

Varigated Fritillary

Mexican Fritillary 2

Texan Crescent

American Lady

Painted Lady

West Coast Lady

Common Buckeye

Tropical Buckeye

Queen

White/Common Checkered-Skipper

Desert Checkered-Skipper

Orange Skipperling

Eufala Skipper

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From John Saba, Leader

SEABA Fieldtrip to Garden Canyon, Ft. Huachuca, Saturday, October 22, 2005

Seven people enjoyed clear blue skies, moderate temperatures, and fall foliage while looking for butterflies in Garden Canyon. We started out in the grasslands  approaching the canyon, and found good numbers and diversity at mud, yellow composites, and Desert Broom. Then, at the
nicely-flowing stream crossing in middle Garden Canyon picnic ground, while we enjoyed excellent looks at common species, a few California Tortoiseshells dropped in.  At the big concrete well box, we saw another Tortoiseshell and at the upper picnic ground, four more Tortoiseshells presented themselves and a late Two-tailed Swallowtail put in an appearance. The road up to Sawmill Canyon revealed yet two more Tortoiseshells, and two more
awaited us at the top. Huachuca Giant-Skippers and three male Chiricahua Whites rounded out our trip list nicely.  Thirty-seven species and  332 individuals were seen:

Chiricahua White  3 males
Checkered White  25
Orange Sulphur  5
Southern Dogface  8
Cloudless Sulphur  5
Sleepy Orange  13
Mexican Yellow  55
Tailed Orange  6
Dainty Sulphur  6
Leda Ministreak  1
Spring Azure  1
Acmon Blue  3
Reakirt's Blue  50
Ceraunus Blue  6
Marine Blue  1
Western Pygmy-Blue  12
American Snout  2
Gulf Fritillary  2
Variegated Fritillary  20
>> California Tortoiseshell  12  (late record for AZ)
American Lady  5
Painted Lady  15
West Coast Lady  1
Common Buckeye  3
Tropical Buckeye  2
Red-spotted Purple  3
Arizona Sister  30
Nabokov's Satyr  5
Queen  5
Common/White Checkered-Skipper  3
Desert Checkered-Skipper  4
Orange Skipperling  1
Fiery Skipper  1
Eufala Skipper  1
Arizona Giant-Skipper  10
Huachuca Giant-Skipper  6

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Eleven SEABA members saw 39 species on their journey to the sunflower
forests of Arivaca Cienega on Saturday, September 24. The trip list
included:

Blues:  Reakirt's, Marine, Ceraunus (? - very worn!), W. Pygmy
Checkerspots: Elada, Tiny
Cloudywings:  Desert (? v. worn), Northern
Mourning Cloak
Crescents:  Painted, Pearl, Texas
Southern Dogface
Funereal Duskywing
Fritillaries:  Gulf, Variegated
Gray Hairstreak
Ladies: Painted, West Coast
Metalmarks:  Mormon, Palmer's
Leda Ministreak
Sleepy Orange
Bordered Patch
Arizona Powdered-Skipper
Queen
Red Satyr
Golden-headed Scallopwing
Skippers: Common Checkered, Eufala, Fiery
Orange Skipperling
American Snout
Sulfurs: Cloudless, Dainty
Swallowtails: Black, Pipevine
Checkered White
Mexican Yellow

Unfortunately, none of the Monarchs that had been seen two days earlier
were visible on the windy morning. The birds weren't bad either: Gray
Hawk, Lazuli and Varied Buntings, Wilson's Warblers, and a possible
Virginia Rail heard!

Elaine Halbedal, Leader

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Catalina State Park was the perfect venue for our September 16 Beginners' Easy Stroll. There were literally clouds of butterflies surrounding some of the nectar sources. We also had nice looks at a Cooper's Hawk and some deer.
Pipevine Swallowtail
Southern Dogface
Sleepy Orange
Dainty Sulphur
Cloudless Sulphur
Gray Hairstreak
Great Purple Hairstreak
Leda Ministreak
Marine Blue
Reakirt's blue
Fatal Metalmark
Mormon Metalmark
Palmer's Metalmark
Tiny Checkerspot
Elada Checkerspot
Bordered Patch
Painted Lady
Empress Leilia
Tawny Emperor
American Snout
Monarch
Queen
Funereal Duskywing
Golden-headed Scallopwing

Libby Sullivan, Leader

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From Kim Davis and Mike Stangeland

Kim and I were lucky enough to take the place of Mark Walker (thanks Mark)
on the trip to Sonora MX with Jim Brock and naturalist Mark Pretti. To say
the least it was one of the best lep adventures we've experienced. Thanks to
Jim's vast experience in Sonora we were able to find and photograph many of
the specialties of the region. Here's a trip list, soon we'll post a few
photos.

Our common and scientific names are from Wanda Dameron's list entitled
"BUTTERFLIES OF SONORA MEXICO" - Jim Brock - July 2005, (Flutterby Press.

We had 138 confirmed species, several yet to be identified and one which was
seen briefly and considered hypothecial:

White-dotted Cattleheart  Parides aolpius
Pipevine Swallowtail  Battus p. philenor
Polydamas Swallowtail  Battus p. polydamas
Giant Swallowtail  Heraclides cresphontes
Black (Eastern) Swallowtail  Papilio polyxenes asterius
Two-tailed Swallowtail  Pterourus multicaudata
Mexican Dartwhite  Catastica n. nimbice
Florida White  Glutophrissa drusilla poeyi
Checkered White  Pontia protodice
White-angled Sulfur  Anteos chlorinde nivifera
Yellow Angled Sulfur  A. maerula lacordarei
Southern Dogface  Zerene cesonia
Sleepy Orange  Abaeis eurytheme
Tailed Orange   Pyrisitia proterpia
Lyside Sulfur  Kricogonia lyside
Dainty Sulfur  Nathalis iole
Large Orange Sulfur  Phoebis a. argarithe
Cloudless Sulfur  P. s. sennae
Boisduval's Yellow  Eurema arbela boisduvaliana
Barred Yellow  E. daira lydia
Mexican Yellow  E. mexicana
Dina Yellow  Pyrisitia dina westwoodi
Little Yellow  P. lisa centralis
Mimosa Yellow  P. nise nelphe
Purple Greatstreak  Atlides halesus estesi
'Siva' Juniper Hairstreak  Callophrys gryneus siva
Xami hairstreak  C. xami
Long-winged Greenstreak  Cyanophrys longula
Clench's Greenstreak  C. miserablis
Black hairstreak  Ocaria ocrisia
Mexican M Hairstreak  Parrhasius moctezuma
Marius Hairstreak  Rekoa marius
Gray Hairstreak  Strymon melinus franki
Gray Ministreak  Ministrymon azia
Clytie Ministreak  M. clytie
Leda Ministreak  M. leda
Lantana Scrub-hairstreak  Strymon bazochi
Red-lined Scrub-hairstreak  S. bebrycia
Tailless Scrub-Hairstreak  S. cestri
Mallow Scrub-hairstreak  S. istapa
Creamy Stripestreak  Arawacus jada
Reakirt's Blue  Echinarhus isola alce
Ceraunus Blue  Hemiargus ceraunus gyas
Marine Blue  Leptotes marina
Grey Bluemark  Lasaia m. maria
Brilliant Jewelmark  Anteros c. carausius
Hepburn's Metalmark  Apodemia hepburni remota
Hypoglaucus Metalmark  A. hypoglauca
Palmer's Metalmark  A. palmeri arizona
Crescent Metalmark  A. phyciodoides
Arizona Scintillant  Calephelis arizonensis
Fatal Metalmark  C. n. nemisis
Ares Tanmark  Emesis ares
Thorn-scrub Tanmark  E. poeas
Bumblebee Yellowmark  Baeotis z. zonata
Red-spotted Purple  Limenitis arthemis arizonensis
Spotless Comma  Polygonia haroldi
Common Mestra   Mestra amymone
Blackened Bluewing  Mysceleia cyanthe skinneri
Tropical Buckeye  Junonia evarete nigrosuufusa
Black Checkerspot  Chlosyne cyneas
Definite Checkerspot (or Patch?)  C. definita anastasia
Theona Checkerspot ssp. Brock's  Chlosyne theona brocki
Theona Checkerspot ssp. Thecla  C. t. thecla
Tiny Checkerspot  Dymasia dymas chara
Elada (Hepburn's) Checkerspot  Texola e. elada = hepburni
Black-patched Cracker  Hamadryas atlantis lelaps
Gray Cracker  H. februa ferentina
Glaucous Cracker  H. glauconome grisea
Guatemalen Cracker  H. guatemalena marmarice
Montane crescent  Anthanassa sitalces cortes
Texan Crescent  A. texana
Ruddy Daggerwing  Marpesia petreus
Cream-banded Emperor  Asterocampa idyja argus
Variegated Fritillary  Euptoieta claudia daunius
Mexican Fritillary  E. hegesia meridiana
Painted Lady  Vanessa cardui
American Lady  V. virginiensis
Tropical Leafwing  Anaea troglodyta aidea
Gulf Fritillary  Agraulis vanillae incarnata
Mexican Silverspot  Dione moneta poeyi
Zebra  Heliconius charithonius vazquezae
Queen  Danaus gilippus thersippus
Boisduval's Owl  Opsiphanes boisduvali
Bordered Patch  Chlosyne lacinia crocale
Rosita Patch  Chlosyne rosita montana
Elf  Microtia e. elva
Dingy Purplewing  Eunica monima
Nayarit Satyr  Cyllopsis nayarit fm. nayarit
Nabokov's Satyr  C. pyracmon fm. nabokovi
White-spotted Satyr  Manateria hercyna maculata
Variable Satyr  Pindix squamistrigia
Arizona Sister  Adelpha bredowii eulalia
American Snout  Libytheana carinenta larvata
Arizona Firetip  Apyrrothrix arizonae
Hook-tipped Bolla  Phocides u. urania
White Checkered-skipper  Pyrgus albescens
Tropical Checkered-Skipper  P. oileus
Desert Checkered-skipper  P. philetas
White-edged Cloudywing  Achalarus albociliatus
White-patched Duskywing  Chiomara asychis georgina
Slaty Duskywing  C. mithrax
Funereal Duskywing  Erynnides funeralis
Fritzgaertner's Flat  Celaenorrhinus fritzgaertneri
White-striped Longtail  Chioides albofasciatus
Zilpa Longtail C. zilpa
Mexican Longtail  Polythrix mexicanus
Mottled longtail  Typhedanus undulatus
Dorantes Longtail  Urbanus d. dorantes
Brown Longtail  U. procne
Common Mottled-Skipper  Codatractus melon
Acacia Mottled-Skipper  Cogia h. hippalus
Texas Powdered-Skipper  Systasea pulverulenta
Golden-headed Scallopwing  Staphylus ceos
Mazan's Scallopwing  S. mazans
Wind's Silverdrop  Epargyreus clarus huachuca
Potrillo Skipper  Cabares p. potrillo
Common Sootywing  Pholisora catullus
White Spurwing  Antigonus emorsa
Dusted Spurwing  A. erosus
Dark Spurwing  A. funebris
Mexican Tufted-skipper  Polyctor cleta
Laviana White-skipper  Heliopetes laviana
Turk's Cap White-skipper  H. macaira
Erichson's White-skipper  Heliopyrgus domicella
Hour-glass Skipperling  Piruna penaea
False (Black) Roadside-skipper  'Amblyscirtes' florus
Toltec Roadside-Skipper  Amblyscirtes tolteca prenda
Tropical least Skipper  Ancyloxypha arene
Cestus Skipper  Atrytonopsis cestus
Orange Skipperling  Copaeodes arauntiacus
Southern Skipperling  C. minimus
Fiery Skipper  Hylephila phyleus
Clouded Skipper  Lerema a. accius
Violet-clouded Skipper  Lerodea arabus
Julia's Skipper  Nastra julia
Carus Skipper  Polites carus
Coahuila Giant-skipper  Agathymus feildi

Yet to be determined:

Sky-blue Groundstreak  Ziegleria syllis
Equal Scallopwing  Staphylus iguala

Rainbow Skipper  Phocides u. urania (hypothetical)

Wow what a great trip!.........Kim & Mike

---

We had a very successful 4 day Labor Day Weekend trip to Sonora sampling butterflies along Ruta 16 from San Jose de Pima to just across the Chihuahua state line.  100 species were seen including Magnificent (Avacado) Swallowtail, Bumblebee Yellowmark and Fritzgaertner's Flat.

 

Species List (from Jim Brock 2005, BUTTERFLIES OF SONORA MEXICO, Flutterby Press):

Note: Scientific names follow "Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera"  Checklist Part 4A edited by Gerardo Lmas, Scientific Publishers, 12/04.  Many names are not what we are used to - but if they are good enough for Jim, they are good enough for us.

 

White-dotted Cattleheart  Parides aolpius

Pipevine Swallowtail  Battus p. philenor

Giant Swallowtail  Heraclides cresphontes

Magnificent Swallowtail  Pterous g. garamas

Checkered White  Pontia protodice

White-angled Sulfur  Anteos chlorinde nivifera

Yellow Angled Sulfur  A. maerula lacordarei

Southern Dogface  Zerene cesonia

Sleepy Orange  Abaeis eurytheme

Tailed Orange   Pyrisitia proterpia

Orange Sulfur  Colias eurytheme

Lyside Sulfur  Kricogonia lyside

Dainty Sulfur  Nathalis iole

Large Orange Sulfur  Phoebis a. argarithe

Orange-barred Sulfur  P. p. philea

Cloudless Sulfur  P. s. sennae

Boisduval's Yellow  Eurema arbela boisduvaliana

Barred Yellow  E. daira lydia

Mexican Yellow  E. mexicana

Dina Yellwo  Pyrisitia dina westwoodi

Mimosa Yellow  P. nise nelphe

Purple Greatstreak  Atlides halesus estesi

Long-winged Greenstreak  Cyanophrys longula

Clench's Greenstreak  C. miserablis

Mountain Groundstreak  Ziegleria guzanta

Mexican M Hairstreak  Parrhasius moctezuma

Marius/Zebina Hairstreak  Rekoa marius/zebina

Gray Hairstreak  Strymon melinus franki

Gray Ministreak  Ministrymon azia

Clytie Ministreak  M. clytie

Leda Ministreak  M. leda

Tailess Scrub-Hairstreak  Strymon cestri

Red-lined Scrub-Hairstreak  S. bebrycia

Creamy Stripestreak  Arawacus jada

Spring Azure  Celestrina argiolus cinerea

Reakirt's Blue  Echinarhus isola alce

Ceraunus Blue  Hemiargus ceraunus gyas

Marine Blue  Leptotes marina

Grey Bluemark  Lasaia m. maria

Hepburn's Metalmark  Apodemia hepburni remota

Hypoglaucus Metalmark  A. hypoglauca

Palmer's Metalmark  A. palmeri arizona

Crescent Metalmark  A. phyciodoides

Arizona Scintillant  Calephelis arizonensis

Fatal Metalmark  C. n. nemisis

Ares Tanmark  Emesis ares

Thorn-scrub Tanmark  E. poeas

Bumblebee Yellowmark  Baeotis z. zonata

Common Mestra   Mestra amymone

Blackened Bluewing  Mysceleia cyanthe skinneri

Common Buckeye  Junonia coenia

Mangrove (Tropical) Buckeye  J. evarete nigrosuufusa

Theona ssp. Brock's  Chlosyne theona brocki

Tiny Checkerspot  Dymasia dymas chara

Elada (Hepburn's) Checkerpost  Texola e. elada = hepburni

Black-patched Cracker  Hamadryas atlantis lelaps

Glaucous Cracker  H. glauconome grisea

Cuban-N Crescent  Antanassa frisia = tulcis

Texan Crescent  A. texana

Variegated Fritillary  Euptoieta claudia daunius

Mexican Fritillary  E. hegesia meridiana

West Coast Lady  Vanessa annabella

Painted Lady  V. cardui

American Lady  V. virginiensis

Tropical Leafwing  Anaea troglodyta aidea

Gulf Fritillary  Agraulis vanillae incarnata

Zebra  Heliconius charithonius vazquezae

Queen  Danaus gilippus thersippus

Bordered Patch  Chlosyne lacinia crocale

Red-spotted Patch  C. m. marina

Rosita Patch  C. rosita montana

Elf  Microtia e. elva

Reddish Satyr  Euptychia rubrofasciata

Variable Satyr  Pindix squamistrigia

California Sister  Adelpha bredowii eulalia

American Snout  Libytheana carinenta larvata

Arizona Firetip  Apyrrothrix arizonae

Mottled Bolla  Bolla clytius

Tropical Checkered-Skipper  Pyrgus oileus

Desert Checkered-skipper  P. philetas

White-edged/Coyote Cloudywing  Achalarus albociliatus/toxeus

Northern Cloudywing  Thorybes pylades

White-patched Duskywing  Chiomara asychis georgina

Funereal Duskywing  Erynnides funeralis

Fritzgaertner's Flat  Celaenorrhinus fritzgaertneri

White-striped Longtail  Chioides albofasciatus

Zilpa Longtail C. zilpa

Dorantes Longtail  Urbanus d. dorantes

Common Mottled-Skipper  Codatractus melon

Acacia Mottled-Skipper  Cogia hippalus

Texas Powdered-Skipper  Systasea pulverulenta

Goldn-headed Scallopwing  Staphylus ceos

Common Sootywing  Pholisora catullus

White Spurwing  Antigonus emorsa

Dark Spurwing  A. funebris

Elissa Roadside-Skipper  Amblyscirtes elissa arizonae

Toltec Roadside-Skipper  A. tolteca prenda

Sheep Skipper  Atrytonopsis edwardsii

Orange Skipper  Copaeodes arauntiacus

Eufala Skipper  Lerodea eufala

 

---

From Mary Kay Eiermann:     

    Silver City, New Mexico, served as the gateway to the Gila National Forest and environs for the SEABA Volunteers Only  trip this past July.

 Elaine Halbedel, who handles the publicity for our chapter, served as hostess and guide. Having previously 'scoped out the best butterfly-finding locations around Lake Roberts and towards Snow Lake, Elaine helped the enthusiastic participants  locate 60 species 

Sightings of Common Black Hawk, and Montezuma Quail added to the fun.  And the excellent food, (chilli rellenos and gelato, deserve special mention,) added to the weekend experience.   Thanks, Elaine!

SPECIES SEEN BY THE GROUP ALONG THE BURSUM ROAD FROM MOGOLLON TO REDSTONE CANYON 7/16/05 ---

 

    Admirals:  Red, Weidemeyer's

    Blues:  Spring Azure, Acmon, Marine, W. Pygmy, Reakirt's, W. Tailed

    Common Buckeye

    Arachne Checkerspot

    Crescents: Painted, Mylitta, Texas

    Mourning Cloak

    Northern Cloudywing

    Satyr Comma

    Tailed Copper

    Southern Dogface

    Duskywings: Afranius, Funereal, Pacuvius, Rocky Mountain

    Fritillaries: Atlantis, Variegated

    Hairstreaks:  Arizona, Gray, Siva Juniper

    Ladies:  Painted, West Coast

    Queen

    Texas Roadside-Skipper

    Arizona Sister

    Skippers: Common Checkered, Deva, Dun, Silver-spotted, Taxiles

    Garita Skipperling

    Sulfurs: Dainty, Orange

    Swallowtails : Pipevine, Two-tailed, INDRA (unbelievable, but we all got px!)

    Whites:  Checkered, Pine

    Mexican Yellow

 

    Interesting Moths:  Hyles lineata and Hemaris diffinis

 

    Seen on pre-trip survey 2 days before but not by group:

    a completely dark Buckeye (Tropical shouldn't be there!)

    Checkerspots: Fulvia, Silvery

    Nokomis Fritillary (a definitive female!)

    Red-spotted Purple

    Queen Alexandra's Sulfur

    Western Tiger Swallowtail

 

SEEN BY THE GROUP AT LAKE ROBERTS 7/17/05:

    Blues:  Spring Azure, Acmon, Marine, Reakirt's

    Common Buckeye

    Checkerspots: Arachne, Silvery, Gorgone (no px but I got a GREAT look)

    Crescents:  Mylitta, Texas

    Mourning Cloak

    Northern Cloudywing

    Southern Dogface

    Duskywings:  Afranius, Funereal, Persius

    Variegated Fritillary

    Hairstreaks:  Gray, Siva Juniper

    Painted Lady

    Sleepy Orange

    Bordered Patch

    Queen

    Dotted Roadside-Skipper

    Skippers:  Common Branded (lots), Common Checkered (lots!!), Eufala

    Garita Skipperling

    Sulfurs:  Dainty, Orange

    Pipevine Swallowtail

    Checkered White

 

    Seen on pre-trip survey:

    Satyr Comma

    Four-spotted Skipperling (a whole colony...)

    Red-spotted Purple

    Dun Skipper

    Taxiles Skipper

    Orange Skipperling

    Arizona Sister

 

---

From Cindy Bethard re: the June 26 Easy Stroll Photography trip


Nine persons traveled to Pena Blanca Lake on June 26 for a butterfly  photography workshop.  Tom supplied tips and pointers on photographing
butterfiles with a digital camera, and lots of photos were taken. Cindy supplied technical support for folks with new Canon digital cameras.

Butterflies seen were (several) Leda Ministreaks, Texan Crescent, Gulf Frittilary, Snout, Sleepy Orange, Southern Dogface, Marine Blue, Reakert's
Blue, Queen, Mexican Yellow, Arizona Metalmark, Fatal Metalmark, Common Checkered Skipper, Meridian Duskywing, and Pipevine Swallowtail.

Dragonflies seen were Black Saddlebags, Mexican Amberwing, Blue Eyed Darner.

Birds seen were Vermilion flycatcher, Ruddy Ground-dove, Lesser Goldfinch, Merganser, Coot, Red Wing blackbirds.

---

Painted Damsel Hesperagrion heterodoxum

On 23 June, 10 SEABA members joined leaders Bob Behrstock and Hank Brodkin to observe dragonflies and damselflies on Fort Huachuca. Sites visited included: Upper Garden Canyon Picnic Area, the mile 1.7 stream crossing in Huachuca Canyon, and the pond by the Lakeside Activity Center. Cloudy skies that threatened to ruin the trip cleared as we arrived at Garden Canyon and activity picked up quickly. In-hand examination gave us a better idea of how these insects are put together, while close-focus binoculars helped us appreciate a variety of behavioral activities associated with mating and hunting.    

 

DAMSELFLIES

BROAD-WINGED DAMSELS

Canyon Rubyspot Hetaerina vulnerata  

SPREADWINGS

Great Spreadwing Archilestes grandis     

POND DAMSELS

Black-and-white Damsel Apanisagrion lais      

Lavender Dancer Argia hinei                  

Sierra Madre Dancer Argia lacrimans              

Apache Dancer Argia munda

Springwater Dancer Argia plana            

Tonto Dancer Argia tonto                  

Arroyo Bluet Enallagma praevarum        

Painted Damsel Hesperagrion heterodoxum

Mexican Forktail Ischnura demorsa       

Desert Firetail Telebasis salva        

 

DRAGONFLIES

DARNERS

Blue-eyed Darner Aeshna multicolor     

Common Green Darner Anax junius           

SKIMMERS

Plateau Dragonlet Erythrodiplax basifusca

Neon Skimmer Libellula croceipennis     

Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata           

Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis

Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes       

Mexican Amberwing Perithemis intensa     

Filigree Skimmer Pseudoleon superbus   

Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata         

Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta

 

<>  

 

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Date: 05/18/2005
Number of Species: 40
Number of Individuals: 165
Location:
Box Canyon Wash
AZ , USA  
Notes: Temps between 65 and 85 degrees.  Light breezes, partly thin high clouds.
Things drying out quickly.  Some bebbia,accacia and mesquitee in bloom.

-==| List of Sightings for this Field Trip |==-
Common Name Scientific Name Life Stage Number Seen Notes
Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor Adult 3
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata Adult 3
Checkered White Pontia protodice Adult 11
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme Adult 1
Southern Dogface Colias cesonia Adult 5
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae Adult 1
Boisduval's Yellow Eurema boisduvaliana Adult 3
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana Adult 17
Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe Adult 2
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole Adult 8
Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus Adult 2
Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile Adult 2
Marine Blue Leptotes marina Adult 9
Reakirt's Blue Hemiargus isola Adult 15
Spring Azure Celastrina ladon Adult 5
Apodemia mormo mejicanus Apodemia mormo mejicanus Adult 3
American Snout Libytheana carinenta Adult 2
Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia Adult 3
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia Adult 2
Dymasia dymas chara Dymasia dymas chara Adult 2
Elada Checkerspot Texola elada Adult 2
'Texan' Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana texana Adult 7
Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa Adult 3
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Adult 4
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia Adult 4
Tropical Buckeye (form nigrosuffusa) Junonia genoveva (form nigrosuffusa) Adult 7
Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax Adult 5
California Sister Adelpha bredowii Adult 2
Tawny Emperor Asterocampa clyton Adult 3
Red Satyr Megisto rubricata Adult 1
Queen Danaus gilippus Adult 6
Arizona Skipper Codatractus arizonensis Adult 1
Acacia Skipper Cogia hippalus Adult 1
Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos Adult 8
Arizona Powdered-Skipper Systasea zampa Adult 1
Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis Adult 1
Desert Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus philetas Adult 2
Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus Adult 3
Python Skipper Atrytonopsis python Adult 2
Sheep Skipper Atrytonopsis edwardsii Adult 3

Hank Brodkin

---

 Silver-banded Hairstreak  Chlorostrymon simaethis Garden Canyon 30 April 2005 Mary Kay Eiermann

Date: 04/30/2005
Number of Species: 37
Number of Individuals: 112
Location:
Garden Canyon
AZ , USA   85613
Notes: April 30 SEABA's field trip to Garden Canyon was a big success.
The weather was perfect - clear skies, light breezes and temps between 60and 71.
The Ceanothus was mostly past - but butterflies were using fleabane and
other composites.
A highlight was a Silver-banded Skipper found at the Boy Scout Cabin and
photoed by almost everyone present.


Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor2
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 2
Checkered White Pontia protodice 5
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 3
Southern Dogface Colias cesonia 5
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 3
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana 5
Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe Adult 2
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 7
'Siva' Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva 2

Silver-banded Hairstreak Chlorostrymon simaethis 1 
Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus 5
Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile 1
Marine Blue Leptotes marina 2
Reakirt's Blue Hemiargus isola 6
Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 1 
Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon 6 
Zela Metalmark Emesis zela 5
American Snout Libytheana carinenta 1
Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae 2
Theona Checkerspot Thessalia theona 3
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 2
Texan' Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana texana10
Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta 6
Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa 1
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 2
Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis arizonensis 3
California Sister Adelpha bredowii 2
Queen Danaus gilippus 1
Short-tailed Skipper Zestusa dorus 2
Desert Cloudywing Achalarus casica 1
Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 2
Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis 2
Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis 3 Could be albescens
Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus 3
>>Pahaska Skipper Hesperia pahaska 1
White-barred Skipper Atrytonopsis pittacus 2 

 

---

22 folks enjoyed a beautiful day at Catalina State Park on our SEABA Field trip on March 30.  Richard Felger and Mike Wilson identified the many bloming plants for us.  An added treat was a Gila Monster that we all had close looks at.
22 Species were seen.


Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor  3
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata  1
Checkered White Pontia protodice  15
Pima Orangetip Anthocharis cethura pima  2
Sara Orangetip Anthocharis sara t 1
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme  2
Southern Dogface Colias cesonia  1
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae  3
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana 1
Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe 2
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole  4
Spring Azure Celastrina ladon  8
American Snout Libytheana carinenta  1
Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas  30
Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa  2
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui  3
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta  2
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia  5
Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia  7
Arizona Powdered-Skipper Systasea zampa  1
Common Streaky-Skipper Celotes nessus  1
Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus  3
 

---

23 February Trip to Colossal Cave County Park
In spite of a very nice - though cool and partly cloudy day - the SEABA field trip only produced two individual butterflies - A Sara Orangetip and an Empress Leilia.
The park was quite green with a good flow of water from the spring.

---

Field Trip November 6, 2004

    In spite of a cool overcast day we managed to see a few butterflies on the blooming rabbitbrush in Garden Wash just west of its confluence with the San Pedro River.  We were there from 10:00AM to 12:00N.

14 Species seen:

 

Pipevine Swallowtail Battus Philenor

Checkered White Pontia potodice

Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme

Southern Dogface Colias cesonia

Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicanum

Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe

Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole

Leda Ministreak Ministrymon leda

Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

West Coast Lady Vanessa annabella

Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis arizonensis

Monarch Danaus plexippus

Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis

 

   

---

    This year's Labor Day weekend trip to Yecora turned out quite successful in spite of some wet and cloudy weather.   We were able to see both forms of Red-bordered Patch marina and eumeda.  The famous baccharis strip west of Yecora on Highway 16 produced a nice aray of hairstreaks and metalmarks.  We are working on a complete list, which we hope will be on the website soon.

---

    Despite the vigorous arrival of Hurricane Javier the day before, the September 19th field trip to Kitt Peak produced more species than expected for the conditions. The weather was very poor: cold, windy, threatening rain. Five intrepid SEABA members saw 16 species in lifezones ranging from 3000-6500 feet, as well as interesting wildflowers and six coati-mundis sauntering next to the road, some of which were juveniles. The reduced monsoons of this year definitely have diminished numbers and varieties of butterflies, with the vegetation at the bottom of the mountain having already passed the wildflower phase earlier than usual into grasses and phenomenal numbers of grasshoppers. Still, despite the cold and wind (which necessitated jackets at lunch!), members were treated to the best display in years of the small but prolific colony of Rita Blues at the 5500 foot level. Resplendent blue/lavender males and orange/brown females were quite docile in the Wild Buckwheat. We were also able to watch a friendly juvenile Calliope Hummingbird at close range. Unfortunately, the Hammock Skippers that had been easily found the day before were hunkered down and invisible for the weather. A telescope tour ended the afternoon.

   

SPECIES SEEN: Painted Lady (many); Pipevine Swallowtail, Mormon Metalmark, Empress Leilia (many), Sleepy Orange, Mexican Yellow, Marine Blue, Red Satyr, Elada Checkerspot, Orange Skipperling, Python Skipper, American Snout (with curiously unmarked gray external wing surfaces), Rita Blue (many), Reakirt's Blue, Mournful Duskywing, Cassus Roadside-Skipper.

 

Elaine Halbedel

---

Date: 10/09/2004
Number of Species: 30

Pena Blanca Field Trip Report
October 19, 2003

Ten of us spent a sunny if somewhat warm day exploring the environs of Pena Blanca Lake. The following 30 species were seen:

Pipevine Swallowtail
Two-tailed Swallowtail
Giant Swallowtail
Southern Dogface
Sleepy Orange
Mexican Yellow
Tailed Orange
Dainty Sulphur
Gray Hairstreak
Reakirt’s Blue
Ceraunus Blue
Arizona Metalmark
Fatal Metalmark
American Snout
Gulf Fritillary
Tiny Checkerspot
Satyr Comma
American Lady
Painted Lady
California Sister
Astercampa species, either celtis or leilia-we only got a very short look
Monarch
Queen
Dorantes Longtail
Funereal Duskywing
Common Checkered-Skipper
Orange Skipperling
Fiery Skipper
Pahaska Skipper
Eufala Skipper (Libby Sullivan)

 

                                                    Huachuca Giant-Skipper  Agathymus evansi Garden Canyon         Arizona Giant-Skipper A. aryxna Carr Canyon 4 October, 2003
                                                       26 September, 2003 HB                                                                   HB

       Silvery Checkerspot Chlosyne nycteis                                Uncas Skipper  Hesperia uncas

June 14, 15 and 16, 2003, folks who have volunteered to help SEABA where treated to a special field trip led by Jim Brock to the White Mountains.  On the 14th we took the road to Green Mountain and environs (G), on the 15th we headed south on 180 and 191 to a few miles below Alpine where we were stopped by a fire closure (A), and on the 16th we went into Mogollon Canyon in New Mexico (M).  We had beautiful weather and saw an amazing 74 species - mainly thanks to Jim's expertise.
Here's the list:

Our Labor Day Weekend trip for 2002 went to Alamos. 13 SEABA members were hosted by David and Jennifer MacKay of Solipaso who put us up in their Hotel, La Ciudadela, the remodeled old Presidio of Alamos. David's vans took us to several sites where butterflies were quite numerous, but not nearly so numerous as previous years. In two days' field work we found over 75 species. Not yet included on this list are butterflies we "identified" and later discovered to have no Sonora records. However the Black-spot Skipper (see left) is, according to Jim Brock and Andy Warren, a Sonora record. As photos become available this list will be subject to additions and subtractions.

Female Widow Skimmer Libellula lucyuosaAgua Caliente Park, June 16, 2002 Kurt Geitzenauer

From Hank Brodkin

Because all of the mountain and foothill habitats were closed due to the extreme fire danger, this month's SouthEast Arizona Butterfly Association's field trip went to Agua Caliente Park in northeastern Tucson on June 17 to learn some dragonflies.
The park contains three largish ponds fed by warm water springs and there are always a lot of odes.
Due to the extreme heat (100 degrees F) we only spent a couple of hours here.  We are still feeling our way with odes so the list below might contain errors - but it still should give an idea of the divirsity of this desert oasis.

Damselflies:
Enallagma sp.
Ishcura sp.
Agria sp.

Dragonflies:
Common Green Darner (Anax junius)
Blue-eyed Darner (Aeshna multicolor)
Widow Skimmer (Libellula lucyuosa)
Plateau Dragonlet (Erythropidax connata)
Mexican Amberwing (Perithemis intensa)
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata)
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)
Black Setwing (Dythemis nigresens)
 

From Hank Brodkin

On May 18 the SEABA Field Trip investigated Box Canyon RD (B) and the Florida Canyon trail (F) along the Research Station in the same drainage.  In spite of very dry conditions we identified 31 species including White-striped Longtail.  Nectar attractants included Catclaw, Kidneywood, and Thread-leaf Groundsel.  The Bebbia was mostly past.

Species:
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) - 8 (F,B)
Giant Swallowtail (Papailio cresphontes) 3 (F)
Two-tailed Swallowtail (P. multicaudatus) 1 (F)
Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicanum) 6 (F)
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) 3 (F, B)
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) 5 (F,B)
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) 1 (B)
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) 60 (F,B)
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) 5 (F,B)
Reakirt's Blue (H. isola) 9 (F,B)
Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon) 10 (B)
Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo) 9 (B)
Palmer's Metalmark (A. palmerii) 6 (B)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) 3 (F,B)
Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) 2 (F)
Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada) 1 (B)
Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana ) 2 (F,B)
Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis) 1 (B)
California Sister (Adelpha bredowii) 3 (F)
Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) 1 (F)
Tawny Emperor (A. clyton) 1 (B)
Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata) 1 (F)
Queen (Danaus gilippus) 3 (B)
White-striped Longtail (Chiodioes catillus) 2 (B)
Desert Cloudywing (Achilarus casica) 1 (F)
Desert Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus philetas) 1 (B)
Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus) 1 (B)
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiacus) 3 (B)
Deva Skipper (Atrytonopsis deva) 2 (B)
Sheep Skipper (A. edwardsi) 6 (F, B)
 

From Hank Brodkin

On April 14 our field trip was to Patagonia Lake State Park in Santa Cruz County.  Conditions were sunny and dry with some clouds moving in.  The senicio bloom was past.  The only obvious nectar sources were water cress and willow. We were at the Lake from 8:00 AM to 12:30, then went to the butterfly garden in Patagonia (P).
Species seen:

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Cabbage White (Peris rapae) (also P)
Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia)
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemisis) good hatch
Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas)
Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada)
Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana)
Pearl Crescent (P. tharos)
Painted Crescent (P. pictus)
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis)
Queen (Danaus gilippus)
Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos) (also P)
Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus)
Orange Skipperling (Copaedoes aurantiacus)
Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska) (only P)
Carus Skipper (Polites carus) (good hatch) (also P)

From Hank Brodkin

The March 16, 2002 SEABA field trip to Peppersauce Canyon managed to eke out a few buterflies in spite of almost bitter cold (for Arizonans) weather and very dry conditions.
Species seen included: Spring White (Pieris sisymbrii), Pearly Marble Eucloe hyantis), Sara's orangetip (Anthocaris sara), Sagebrush Checkerspot(Chlosyne acastus), Variable Checkerpsot (Euphydryas chalcedona anicia), a very worn and bitten Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), a buckeye with feature of both Common and Tropical Buckeye (Junonia coenia/genoveva), and Common/White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus comunis/albescens).
 

From Lee Sullivan, 24 February, 2002

The February 21 Field Trip led by Barbara Terkanian was quite a sucess with a large turnout.  Though conditions were very dry, we saw Sara and desert Orangetips, Painted Lady, Mourning Cloak, Dainty Sulphur, Acmon Blue, Tiny Checkerspot and Sleepy Orange.

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