NEWS & SIGHTINGS
For Sightings from SEABA Field Trips click HERE

HANK BRODKIN

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From Dave Powell, Phoenix   4-06-08

I was out on both Friday (4/4/08) and Saturday (4/5/08) looking for butterflies.  On Friday I headed down to SE AZ and visited Box Canyon, Pima Co. and Garden Canyon, Cochise Co.  I was in Box Canyon from about 10:00 to 12:00 and in Garden Canyon from about 1:30 to 3:30.  On Saturday (4/6/08) I accompanied Kurt Radamaker on a Desert Rivers Audubon field trip to Sycamore Creek, Maricopa Co.  We were along Sycamore Creek from about 9:00 to 2:00, though it was too cold for butterflies for part of this time.  Not much in the way of nector anywhere.  There was a flowering white shrub in Garden Canyon that attracted hairstreaks, but this same shrub along Sycamore Creek had essentially nothing.

Box Canyon

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) - 6

Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) - 4

Checkered White (Pontia protodice) - 2

Sara Orangetip (Anthocharus sara) - 2

Mexican Yellow (Eurema Mexicana) - 3

Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) - 2

Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) - 7

Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) - 1

Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) - 1

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) - 6

Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis) - 4

Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela) - 1

Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) - 20+

Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada) - 5+

Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana) - 10+

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) - 3

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) - 2

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) - 5

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) - 1

Tropical Leafwing (Anaea aidea) - 1

Empress Leilia (Astrocampa leilia) - 10+

Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis) - 1

Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos) - 5

White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens) - 5 (by location)

Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus) - 6

Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiacus) - 5

White-barred Skipper (Atrytonopsis pittacus) - 2

 

Garden Canyon


Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) - 3

Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) - 5

Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) - 1

Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus siva) - 3

Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) - 1

Arizona Hairstreak (Erora quaderna) - 8

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) - 5

Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela) - 2

Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia) - 3

Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana) - 1

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) - 1

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) - 2

Gold-costa Skipper (Cogia caicus) - 1

Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo) - 1

White-barred Skipper (Atrytonopsis pittacus) - 1

 

Sycamore Creek
 

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) - 10+

Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) - 4

Checkered White (Pontia protodice) - 4

Sara Orangetip (Anthocharus sara) - 2

Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) - 6

Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) - 2

Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus) - 3

Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus siva) - 2

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) - 4

Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon) - 1

Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela) - 2

California Patch (Chlosyne californica) - 4

Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus) - 5

Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) - 5

Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) - 5

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) - 4

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) - 1

Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) - 2

Empress Leilia (Astrocampa leilia) - 5

Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo) - 1

Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) - 1

Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos) - 2

White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens) - 10+ (by location)

Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiacus) - 3

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Libby Sullivan , 10-31-06

Today at ASDM Sue and I saw 25 species of butterflies including a White-patched Skipper and a Violet-clouded Skipper. Both of these were seen in the Mountain Habitat area although they have been seen in the Desert Garden and Pollination Gardens as well earlier in the season. Just check out the flowering plants in the Mountain Habitat.

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From Hank Brodkin, 10-20-05

I just got back from a butterfly/ode trip to Yuma County with Rich
Bailowitz.  We had a fine time with some 36 species including 3 county
records and at least one late state record.  October 18 we were mainly at
Betty's Kitchen, a BLM wildlife area on Laguna Dam Road upriver from Yuma.
October 19 we were mainly up King Road into a canyon in the Kofa Mountains
in the northern interior of the county and today, the 20th, we were in Yuma
at the West Wetlands City Park.  Here is the list:

Fiery Skipper - 18, 20
Eufala Skipper - 18
Erichson's White-Skipper - 19
Northern White-Skipper - 19, 8 individuals, County Record
Arizona Powdered-Skipper - 19 good flight
Funereal Duskywing - 18
White/Common Skipper - 18, 19
Checkered White - 18, 19, 20
Orange Sulphur - 18, 19, 20
Southern Dogface - 18, 19, 20
Sleepy Orange - 18, 19, 20
Mexican Yellow - 18, 19, 20
Dainty Sulphur -  18
Leda Ministreak - 18
Gray Hairstreak - 18, 19, 20
Great Blue Hairstreak - 19
Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak - 19: 1 individual
Fatal Metalmark - 20
Mormon Metalmark - 19 (good flight of type with black or dark gray on the
ventral hind wings.  Both Wright's Buckwheat and Rattany in the area.)
Palmer's Metalmark (marginalis) - 18, 20 common
Ceraunus Blue - 18, 19, 20
Reakirt's Blue - 18, 19, 20
Marine Blue - 18, 19
Pygmy Blue - 18, 20
Snout - 19, 20
West Coast lady - 20: 3 individuals
Painted Lady - 18, 19, 20: thousands!
American Lady - 18, 20 : 2 Individuals
Red Admiral - 19: 1 individual
California Tortoiseshell - 19: 4 individuals, 20: 1 Individual.  County
record, late state record  Photo, specimen
Common Buckeye - 18, 19, 20
Tropical Buckeye - 19: at least 2 individuals, county record
California Patch - 19: 1 individual
Variegated Fritillary - 19: 1 individual
Queen - 18, 19, 20
Monarch - 18, 19, 20: scattering everywhere.

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Libby Sullivan reported a Mexican Fritillary at the ASDM on 9/13.

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A  Mylon, probably pelopidas, according to Andy Warren was photographed then taken by Mike Stangeland in Sycamore Canyon on 9/12.  This is a new genus and a new species for the United States.  The DNA will be checked to eliminate any almost identical species from east Mexico.  According to Andy Warren the closest pelopidas gets to Arizona is southern Sinaloa.

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Here is a report on the post-meeting trip to Mexico led by Mark Pretti and
Jim Brock.  The group of seven participants left Sierra Vista on August 7th
and spent 5 days in Sonora, Mexico.  We drove straight through on Route 15
bypassing Hermosillo to Route 16. We skipped San Carlos on the way down.
Watching sites were all along Route 16 from the Rio Matape in the lowlands
to the Sonora/Chihuahuan border east of Yecora. On the return we drove
Route 16 to Route 15, then taking Route 2 to Naco where we crossed the border.

Main site locations were Rt. 16 at the Rio Matape, Km 196, Km 261, Santa
Ana, Pilares, (about 10 miles east of Yecora) and 1 mile east of the Sonora
border in Chihuahua.

The group included Wanda Dameron, Kim Davis, Elaine Haldabel, Jean Morgan,
Sue Perry, Mary Sheppard, Mike Stangeland. This was a great introduction
for the group to the butterflies of Sonora.  Thanks much to Jim for being
willing to lead the trip and to Hank Brodkin for making the initial
arrangements for this great tour!!  The Southwestern Arizona Chapter of
NABA, SEABA, co-sponsor of the August meeting, periodically arranges for
butterflying trips to Sonora. Those interested in future trips could
contact Hank Brodkin ["Hank Brodkin" <hbrodkin@cox.net>].


>The list...
>
>Giant Swallowtail
>Pipevine Swallowtail
>Two-tailed Swallowtail
>Lyside Sulphur
>Dainty Sulphur
>Large Orange Sulphur
>Cloudless Sulphur
>White-angled Sulphur
>Yellow-angled Sulphur
>Southern Dogface
>Sleepy Orange
>Tailed Orange
>Boisduval's Yellow
>Barred Yellow
>Mexican Yellow
>Dina Yellow
>Checkered White
>Gray Hairstreak
>Gray Ministreak
>Clytie Ministreak
>Leda Ministreak
>Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak
>Yojoa Scrub-Hairstreak
>Creamy Stripestreak
>Reakirt's Blue
>Ceraunus Blue
>Marine Blue
>Hepburn's Metalmark
>Palmer's Metalmark
>Crescent Metalmark
>Arizona Metalmark
>Fatal Metalmark
>Ares Metalmark
>Poeas Metalmark
>Tiny Yellowmark
>Bumble Bee Yellowmark
>Common Mestra
>Black Checkerspot
>Tiny Checkerspot
>Elada Checkerspot
>Hepburn's Checkerspot
>Texan Crescent
>Empress Leilia
>Variegated Fritillary
>Mexican Fritillary
>West Coast Lady
>Painted Lady
>American Lady
>Tropical Leafwing
>Zebra Heliconian
>Queen
>Monarch
>Bordered Patch
>Rosita Patch
>Elf
>Tropical Buckeye
>Reddish Satyr         Euptychia rubrofasciata
>American Snout
>Dull Firetip
>Golden Banded-Skipper
>White/Common Checkered-Skipper
>Tropical Checkered-Skipper
>White-edged Cloudywing       Achalarus albociliatus
>Drusius Cloudywing
>Northern Cloudywing
>White-patched Skipper      Chiomara georgina
>Funereal Duskywing
>Juvenal's Duskywing
>Mournful Duskywing
>Two-barred Flasher   (prob the Vitex-feeder mainly in Sonora)
>White-striped Longtail
>Mexican Longtail  (tentative I.D. but a Polythrix of some kind)
>Dorantes Longtail
>Acacia Skipper
>Texas Powdered-Skipper
>Golden-headed Scallopwing
>Wind's Silverdrop   (tentative ID)
>White Spurwing    Antigonus emorsa
>Laviana White-Skipper
>Erichson's White-Skipper
>Many-spotted Skipperling    Piruna aea/cingo
>Miller's Skipperling   Pirunamillerorum
>Sina Skipperling      Piruna sina
>Hour-glass Skipperling      Piruna panaea
>Bold Faceted-Skipper   Synapte syraces
>Bronze Roadside Skipper
>Brock's Roadside Skipper
>Elissa Roadside Skipper
>Orange-headed Roadside Skipper     Amblyscirtes phylace
>Toltec Roadside Skipper
>Tropical Least Skipper
>Orange Skipperling
>Southern Skipperling
>Clouded Skipper
>Liris Skipper
>Julia's Skipper
>Gala Skipper         Paratrytone gala
>Dun Skipper          Euphyes vestris
>
>Jim Brock

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Mimosa Yellow Eurema mimosa Comfort Springs 6-09-05 HB

There are certain things I have to be thankful for - a wife who shares my passions, reasonable health and the fact that I am able to live in a beautiful and natural place.  Carr Reef at 7400'  is less than a 7 mile drive from our house. From there foot trails take one into the heart of the Huachuca Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona.  This morning in a 2 hour walk along the Comfort Springs Trail the following were seen:

 

4 Checkered White (P.protodice)

1 Southern Dogface (C. cesonia)

2 Mimosa Yellow (E. nise) 1 Photographed- see above

8 Mexican Yellow (E. mexicanum)

11 Spring Azure (C. ladon)

1 Acmon Blue (P. acmon)

7 Reakirt's Blue (H. isola)

9 Marine Blue (L. marina)

2 Mylitta Crescent (P. mylitta)

1 Texan Crescent (P. texana)

3 "Arizona" Sister (A. bredowii eulalia) [time finally to split this puppy? ;-)]

2 Canyonland Satyr (C. pertepida) 1 photographed

6 Silver-spotted Skipper (E. clarus)

2 Northern Cloudywing (T. pylades)

3 Deva Skipper (A. deva)

1 Python Skipper (A. python)

2 Orange-edged Roadside-Skipper (A. fimbriata)

 

There was not much nectar and things are drying out.  However there was still New Mexico locust with a few fresh blooms and fleabane.  Just beginning was Asclepias tuberosa, false indigo and several neat yellow composites (the kind that try men's souls).

Also Shawneen Finnegan of Tucson sent me a photo of a Short-tailed Skipper (Z. dorus) taken by a friend of hers in Garden Canyon in Ft. Huachuca last week - one of several reports of a bug that should not be out this month.  June is typically between the Spring and Summer broods of this species.

 

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Creamy Stripe-Streak Arawacus Jada, Ash Canyon, 3 June, 2005 Bob Behrstock

Bob Behrstock reported the above in his yard in Hereford on June 3, 2005.

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Date: 05/26/2005
Number of Species: 32
Number of Individuals: 285
Location:
Portal
AZ , USA   85632
Notes: Priscilla Brodkin and I  drove from Portal to Ruslter and Barfoot Parks in the Chiricahuas.  It was a beautiful day - partly cloudy - mild temperatures and slight breezes.  Nectar was in good supply in spots - missing in others.

Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor Adult 2
Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes Adult 4
Western Tiger Swallowtail Papilio rutulus Adult 8
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata Adult 3
Checkered White Pontia protodice Adult 30
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme Adult 17
Southern Dogface Colias cesonia Adult 2
Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe Adult 5
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole Adult 4
Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus Adult 7
Marine Blue Leptotes marina Adult 16
Reakirt's Blue Hemiargus isola Adult 10
Spring Azure Celastrina ladon Adult 6
Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon (includes texana and lutzi) Adult 15
Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia Adult 4
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia Adult 1
'Texan' Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana texana Adult 1
Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta Adult 2
American Lady Vanessa virginiensis Adult 2
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Adult 19
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia Adult 15
Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax Adult 2
California Sister Adelpha bredowii Adult 7
Red Satyr Megisto rubricata Adult 1
Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus Adult 37
Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades Adult 9
Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis Adult 2 Several Erynnis not id'd
Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis Adult 21 could be white
Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus Adult 3
Deva Skipper Atrytonopsis deva Adult 22
Python Skipper Atrytonopsis python Adult 5
Orange-edged Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes fimbriata Adult 3 First we've seen this season

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Fritzgaertner's Flat Celaenorrhinus fritzgaertneri Tepoca, Sonora 27 April, 2005 HB

From Jim Brock re: 4-15 -29 -05, Sonora

The Brodkins and I spent a few days down in east central Sonora watching
butterflies. We drove to Yecora via Agua Prieta, Moctezuma then Sahauripa.

The overall numbers of butterflies is much less than one finds after the
onset of the summer rains but the diversity is around 90% of what one finds in
August/September. We had 114 species. Needless to say Texan Crescents and
Boisduval's Yellows were everywhere, every stop!

Our first stop was below Nacozari. Here is where one begins to see the
thornscrub influence with Organ Pipe, Feather tree (Lysiloma) and Yellow Orchid vine
(Mascagnia). The bugs were SE AZ stuff like Pipevine Swallowtail, Queen,
Checkered White, Empress Leilia, but Priscilla spotted an Achalarus albociliatus
which was nice.

South of Moctezuma after an encounter with a Great Purple Hairstreak on the
gas station wall we stopped to photograph a flowering tree - we think it was a
solanaceous plant of some sort, covered in white flowers. Here was also some
purple flowers attracting dozens of Litlle Yellow, both Orange and Southern
Skipperling, Golden Headed Scallopwing and Mexican Fritillary.

This new road between Moctezuma and Sahuaripa is close to being done except
for a few bridges over an interesting canyon. The detour takes you through the
canyon where one finds a few figs and some palms, kapok and other thornscrub
plants.
In the canyon our highlights were...

Clytie Ministreak                   M. clytie
Silver-banded Hairstreak        C. simaethis
Mexican Fritillary                   E. hegesia
Tropical Checkered Skipper    P. oileus
Empress Leilea                      A. leilea
Mottled Bolla                         B. clytius
Blackened Bluewing               M. cyananthe
White-striped Longtail            C. albofasciatus

Coming out of the canyon we were back on the roadway barely a mile or so and
stopped at a blooming guayacan tree (Guiacum coulteri). If you've never seen
one of these trees in bloom you're missing one of the great sights of Sonora.
This is the foodplant for the caterpillars of the Lyside Sulphur and a half
dozen or so adults were clustered around the blooms as were a number of other
pollinators and a single Mormon Metalmark. This specimen is rather huge and
matches the size of the coastal Mormon Metalmarks that one finds down at San
Carlos, Sonora.

Then it was on through the Rio Sahauripa valley and up into the hills below
Santa Rosa for our last stop of the day. Here we stopped to find butterflies
using a tall but small flowered composite. Highlights were three pairs of
Military Macaws and..

Mountain Greenstreak    C. longula
Red-lined Hairstreak       S. bebrycia
Gray Metalmark             L. maria
Creamy Hairstreak         A. jada
Common Mellana          M. eulogius
Leda Ministreak            M. leda
American Lady             V. virginiensis
Ceraunus Blue             H. ceraunus
Gray Hairstreak            S. melinus

Day 2

We drove from Yecora on the main highway (Rt. 16) to Km 196. This is known to
most lepsters as the "Palm Canyon". It's a good place to look for Orange
Owlets (Opsiphanes boisduvali) and we weren't disappointed getting a fly -by just
prior to heading back up the road. Other good thornforest bugs here were...
 Zebra                                 H. charitonia
Zilpa Longtail                         C. zilpa
Two-barred Flasher               A. azul
Pallid Tilewhite                     H. costaricensis
Texas Powdered Skipper       S. pulverulenta
Laviana White Skipper           H. laviana
Clouded Skipper                   L. accius
Tailess Scrub Hairstreak       S. cestri
Lantana Scrub Hairstreak      S. bazochii
Cream banded Emperor        A. idyjus argus
Glaucous Cracker                H. glauconome
Nayarit Satyr                       C. nayarit (spring form) windi
Orsines bolla                       B. orsines

the highlight was walking into the double culvert (two large steel cylinders
under the highway) and stirring up about 40-50 Fritzgaertner's Flats.

Our next stop was the infamous canyon at the town of Tepoca. This is the
canyon where the newly described Danforth's Metalmark resides. Although it was
well after the known flight (March) we remained optimistic. No N. danforthi but
we did find the following...

Potrillo Skipper                     C. potrillo
Acacia Skipper                     C. hippalus
Large Orange Sulphur           P. agarithe
Tailed Orange                      E. proterpia
Dina Yellow                         E. dina
Cestus Skipper                    A. cestus
White and Yellow Angled Sulphurs        A. clorinde /  A. maerula
Tropical Leafwing                 A. aidea
Red Admiral                       V. atalanta
and a single Glaucous Metalmark        A. hypoglauca

We started back to Yecora and a brief stop at Km 249 yielded

Theona Checkerspot           C. theona
Arizona Metalmark             C. arizonensis
Variable Satyr                    P. squamistriga

All in all a great day!

On Thursday we decided to try the top of Mesa Campinero, just 10 miles or so
west of Yecora. This is the highewst point in this region of Sonora at around
7000' It is home to Mountain Trogon, Brown-backed Solitaire, Tufted Flycatcher
and other sought after birds. The butterflies are equally interesting in that
one can find Rainbow Skipper  (P. urania) and Bag Lady  (E. socialis) here.

On top is was rather unexciting. Sorting through the dozens of Texan
Crescents we found

Pacuvius Duskywing          E. pacuvius
Mexican Cloudywing          T. mexicana
Northern Cloudywing          T. pylades
West Coast Lady              V. annabella
Acmon Blue                      P. acmon
Mexican Silverspot            D. moneta

We then dropped down to the famous barranca between Km 260-261. Here we were
stunned by a patroling Magnificent Swallowtail (P. garamas abdurus) - only the
second one I've ever seen in Sonora! A birding group had infromed us of the
beast the evening before and there it was in all its glory! We watched this
specimen for at least two hours before departing. When it landed it was in such a
postion that photos were impossible.

A puddle produced some other nice butterflies including

Mountain Crescent           P. sitalces
Silver Emperor                 D. laure
Mountain Hairstreak         K. guzanta
Creamy banded Emperor  A. idyjus argus
Mountain Greenstreak      C. longula
Clench's Greenstreak      C. miserabilis

also here we had

Nabokov's Satyr             C. pyracmon f. henshawi
Arizona Sister               A. bredowii
White spotted Satyr      M. maculata
Tegula Metalmark         E. tegula   (only the 2nd one for Sonora that I know of)
Chisos banded Skipper  A. cincta
Two-tailed Swallowtail    P multicaudata
Yojoa Scrub Hairstreak   S. yojoa

Our next stop was at a creek 13 miles E. of Yecora. I think this area is
known as Las Pilares. It would have been a dud were it not for a small blooming
composite. We had the following...

Crescent Metalmark        A. phyciodoides
Tailed Blue                     not yet described
Julia Skipper                  N. julia
Juniper Hairstreak          M. g. siva
Mourning Cloak             N. antiopa
Definite Patch               C. definita anastasia
Desert Cloudywing        A. casica
Desert Checkered Skipper       P. philetas
Red Spotted Purple       L. astyanax
Fiery Skipper                H. phyleus
Tropical Buckeye          P. g. nigrosuffusa
Barred Yellow              E. daira
and other common things  (Dainty Sulphur, etc.)

Our last stop was on the road back to town at some white flowers and some
Pine-leaf Milkweed (also white).

Hank found a Black Checkerspot (C. cyneas) and we added one Mournful
Duskywing (E. tristis).

Our drive home on Friday yielded more of the same in the fig canyon north of
Sahauripa plus
Palmer's Metalmark        A. palmeri
Hepburn's Metalmark      A. hepburni
Fritzgaertner's Flat         C. fritzgaertneri

A brief stop north of Nacozari at km 95 for Soapberry Hairstreak caterpillars
yielded none but there were lots of butterflies including Sheep Skipper (A.
edwardsii) and more Arizona variety bugs.

It was a great trip with cool temps, no chiggers or mosquitos, good friends
and excellent bugs. Try it sometime!

---

Boisduval's Yellow  Eurema boisduvalianum Garden Canyon, 4-15-05 PRB

From Hank Brodkin:

Date: 04/15/2005
Number of Species: 38
Number of Individuals: 264
Location:
Garden Canyon
AZ , USA   85613
Notes: Weather clear in the low 70's - becoming breezy after noon.
Ceanothus in prime bloom, Barberry bloom in decline - both plants attracting many butterflies.  Boisduval's Yellow seem to be staging an invasion down our way;  Dainty Sulphurs and Texan Crescents are out in numbers.


Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor Adult 2
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata Adult 3
Checkered White Pontia protodice Adult 2
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme Adult 5
Southern Dogface Colias cesonia Adult 6
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae Adult 2
Boisduval's Yellow Eurema boisduvaliana Adult 6 influx this spring
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana Adult 4
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole Adult 100 seemed to be everywhere
Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus Adult 1
'Siva' Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva Adult 8
Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus Adult 12
Leda Ministreak Ministrymon leda Adult 1
Arizona Hairstreak Erora quaderna Adult 9
Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile Adult 3
Reakirt's Blue Hemiargus isola Adult 4
Spring Azure Celastrina ladon Adult 3
Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon (includes texana and lutzi) Adult 3
Zela Metalmark Emesis zela Adult 12
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia Adult 13
Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas Adult 1
Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana Adult 28
Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta Adult 5
Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa Adult 1
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Adult 3
Tropical Buckeye (form nigrosuffusa) Junonia genoveva (form nigrosuffusa) Adult 2
Queen Danaus gilippus Adult 3
Short-tailed Skipper Zestusa dorus Adult 2
Gold-costa Skipper Cogia caicus Adult 1
Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos Adult 2
Arizona Powdered-Skipper Systasea zampa Adult 1
Sleepy Duskywing Erynnis brizo Adult 1
'Arizona' Juvenal's Duskywing Erynnis juvenalis clitus Adult 1
Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis Adult 3
Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis Adult 4 Could be albescens
Desert Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus philetas Adult 1
Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus Adult 3
White-barred Skipper Atrytonopsis pittacus Adult 3

---

From: Janine McCabe
Subject: Aravaipa Canyon West, Pinal County, Arizona 4-5-05

With strong constant winds the canyon was a pretty nice escape as it
was fairly sheltered.  Warm mid-80's, clear.  The seep willow was
blooming and starting to attract nectarers.
24 species, 82 individuals.

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) 17
Sara Orangetip (Anthocharis sara) 1
Queen (Danaus gilippus) 6
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) 3
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 2
Comma specie...Possibly Hoary  1
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) 2
Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) 2
Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela) 4
Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) 1
Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada) 2
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) 4
Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia) 1
Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) 20
Blue specie....not sure of ID     2
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) 2
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) 1
Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia) 1
Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana) 1
Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) 1
Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis albescens) 1
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) 1
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) 3
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) 1

---

From: John Saba
Subject: SE AZ: Peppersauce Canyon, 3/31/05

Pete Spino and I checked out the north side of the Catalina Mts. at about
5,000' elevation.

Pinal Co., Catalina Mts., Peppersauce Canyon, Thursday, March 31, 2005,
11:30 - 3:30,
16 species:

Checkered White  10
Sara Orangetip  6
"Pima" Desert Orangetip  2
Dainty Sulphur  20
Gray Hairstreak  1
Spring Azure  10
Acmon Blue  6
Texan Crescent  6
"Anicia" Variable Checkerspot (desert form)  15
Mourning Cloak  2
Painted Lady  2
Red Admiral  1
Golden-headed Scallopwing  3
Common/White Checkered-Skipper  10
Desert Checkered-Skipper  2
Orange Skipperling  5

(101 individuals)

Notes:  Temps in the 60's, clear sky, intermittent light-to-moderate wind.

---

From Hank Brodkin -28 March, 2005

Today Bob Behrstock and I spend between 12 and 2 in Garden Canyon.  Wilcox Barbary is blooming and Ceanothus has large buds that have not yet opened.

Not many butterflies.  We did see:

 

1 Pearly Marble Euchloe hyantis

2 Cloudless Sulphurs Phoebis sennae

1 Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole

1 Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva

1 Arizona Hairstreak  Erora quaderna

2 Spring Azure Celestrina ladon
2  Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia

5 Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta

4 Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa

2 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

8 Short-tailed Skpper Zestusa dorus

1 Sleepy Duskywing Erynnis brizo

2  white-fringed Duskywinged species

---

From John Saba
Pima Co., Santa Rita Mts., Florida Work Station, Thursday, March 10, 2005,
2:00 - 4:15, 8 species:
Pearly Marble  6
Sara Orangetip  10  (several were pale yellow)
"Pima" Desert Orangetip  7
Mexican Yellow  1
Dainty Sulphur  1
Spring Azure  8
Reakirt's Blue  1
Mourning Cloak  2

(36 Individuals)

---

From Gaige and Linda Wunder 25 February, 2005

We went to W. Tucson on a hike with friends yesterday...took the trail across from Desert Museum....saw lots of Sara and Pima orangetips...also some blues and another we didn't see long enough to id....loads of wildflowers and also some petroglyphs...just thought if anyone wanted to go see the orangetips they were really out ... "yesterday" 

---

From Libby Sullivan, 9 September, 2004

Sue [Bridgemon]and I saw a White Angled-Sulphur today [in Garden Canyon].

---

From Bob Behrstock, 25 August, 2004

Jim Brock, Hank Brodkin and I visited the TNC Canelo Hills Cienega Preserve and sites along its perimeter today from 08:50-12:45 hrs. This area is at mile 16, south of Sonoita and north of Parker Canyon Lake, Santa Cruz, Co., AZ. The sky was clear with bright sun and temps in the mid-80s. The cienega (marsh) areas were drier than in previous years and some species were difficult to encounter. A number of species were represented by single individuals. Nectar plants included Poison Milkweed, Butterfly Milkweed, buttercup, thistle, and loosestrife.

Two-tailed Swallowtail (1)

Orange sulphur
Southern Dogface (1)
Cloudless Sulphur
Mexican Yellow
Sleepy Orange
Gray Hairstreak
Leda Ministreak (1)
Western Pygmy-Blue
Palmer's Metalmark (1)
American Snout (1)
Variegated Fritillary
Texan Crescent (1)
Pearl Crescent
Painted Crescent
Mylitta Crescent (1)
Mourning Cloak
Painted Lady
American Lady (1)
Common Buckeye
Tropical Buckeye
Viceroy (1)
Monarch
Queen
Dull Firetip
Dorantes Longtail (1)
Northern Cloudywing
Golden-headed Scallopwing
Many-spotted Skipperling (1)
Sunrise Skipper (about 5 F, 1 M, 1 larva)
Pahaska Skipper

---

From Molly Pollock
Tucson, AZ

Saturday, August 14, 2004
Kitt Peak with Shawneen Finnegan, Martha Auslander (driver), Molly Pollock, and Rich Hoyer.  Mostly heavy overcast in the morning, finally mostly sunny by 1:30. (Lots of rain in places Friday evening).
Butterflied slowly on the way up, stopping at the old quarry, then made roadsides stops up to the largest ravine (with lots of walnut trees), then to picnic area, and then to top from about 2:30 - 3:30.  

Interesting statistics: We saw 28 species, among them 14 species of skipper.  On a similar trip to Kitt Peak Sep. 14 last year, we had 40 species, but only 11 skippers.

Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 1
Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes 1
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 5
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 10
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana 4
Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus 1
Marine Blue Leptotes marina 2
American Snout Libytheana carinenta 6
Elada Checkerspot Texola elada 1
Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa 1
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 4
West Coast Lady Vanessa annabella 1
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta 1
Queen Danaus gilippus 3
Dull Firetip Apyrrothrix araxes 1
Arizona Skipper Codatractus arizonensis 2
Golden Banded-Skipper Autochton cellus 4
Desert Cloudywing Achalarus casica 3
Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades 50
Acacia Skipper Cogia hippalus 200
Gold-costa Skipper Cogia caicus 3
Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 2
Arizona Powdered-Skipper Systasea zampa 7
Juvenal's Duskywing Erynnis juvenalis 1
Common Sootywing Pholisora catullus 1
Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus 2
Bronze Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes aenus 3
Nysa Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes nysa 1

---

From Hank Brodkin

Date: 07/26/2004
Number of Species: 33
Number of Individuals: 163
Location:
Garden Canyon
AZ , USA   85613
Notes: Under partly cloudy skies, Bob Behrstock, Matt and Anne Heindel and
Hank Brodkin went up Garden Canyon.  Necter sources were good with thistles
and with some basket flowers starting to bloom, and though monsoon species
were emerging - the canyon was quite dry for an area that usually has plenty
of water this time of year.  Let's hope for some good rains

-==| List of Sightings for this Field Trip |==-
Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 3
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 5
Cabbage White Pieris rapae 5 First I have ever seen here
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 1
Southern Dogface Colias cesonia 3
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana1
Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus 1
Marine Blue Leptotes marina 4
Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus 1
Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 10
Zela Metalmark Emesis zela 1
Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae 1
Theona Checkerspot Thessalia theona 1
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 5
Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa 15 most I have ever seen here
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 2
American Lady 1
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 1
California Sister Adelpha bredowii 3 numbers way down
Nabokov's Satyr Cyllopsis pyracmon 5
Canyonland Satyr Cyllopsis pertepida 1
Red Satyr Megisto rubricata 7
Dull Firetip Pyrrhopyge araxes 1 first of year
Short-tailed Skipper Zestusa dorus 3
Golden Banded-Skipper Autochton cellus 5
Desert Cloudywing Achalarus casica 4
Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades 5
Drusius Cloudywing Thorybes drusius 6 Good numbers this year
Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis 1 some others - worn and not id'd
Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 2
Taxiles Skipper Poanes taxiles 50 everywhere
Moon-marked Skipper Atrytonopsis lunus 2 first of season
Large Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes exoteria 2
Cassus Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes cassus 5
Bronze Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes aenus 6

---

From PD Hulce, Horseshoe Canyon, 7-23-04

Melinda and I made our first naturalist outing last Sunday (July 18th), and went into Horseshoe Canyon from 7:30 until noon.  Here is the list of butterflies that we saw:

Two-tailed Swallowtail  1
Pipevine Swallowtail    35
Southern Dogface        1
Sleepy Orange           3
Little Yellow           1
Mexican Yellow          2
Cloudless Sulphur       1
Lyside Sulphur          8
Ceraunus Blue           5
Reakirt's Blue          6
Palmer's Metalmark      1
Gulf Fritillary         1
Variegated Fritillary   1
Common Buckeye          6
Tropical Buckeye        1
Red-spotted Purple      10
California Sister       40
Queen                   10
Red Satyr               8
Arizona Skipper         1
Gold-costa Skipper      1
Northern Cloudywing     14
Arizona Powdered Skipper 1
Desert Checkered Skipper 3
Golden-headed Scallopwing  8
Sachem                  1
Orange Skipperling      6
Large Roadside Skipper  1
Nysa Roadside Skipper   1

Total:  29 species

---

Date: 06/11/2004
Number of Species: 47
Number of Individuals: 439
Location:
Garden Canyon
AZ , USA   85613
Notes: Garden Canyon on Ft. Huachuca continues to supply many species of butterfly.  On June 11 Bob Behrstock, Ro Wauer, Brent Wauer and Hank Brodkin spent from 9:30AM to 3:00PM covering the three miles of road from the upper picnic area to the Boy Scout Cabin at the end of the road.
Thistles (New Mexico?) were covered with Deva Skippers and a few Pythons.  Northern Cloudywings were out in great numbers.

-==| List of Sightings for this Field Trip |==-
Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 5
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 6
Checkered White Pontia protodice 8
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 7
Southern Dogface Colias cesonia 17
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 5
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana 36
Mimosa Yellow Eurema nise 1
Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe 2
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 1
'Siva' Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva 15
Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus 29
Leda Ministreak Ministrymon leda 19
Marine Blue Leptotes marina 60
Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus 5
Reakirt's Blue Hemiargus isola 17
Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 9
Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon 1
Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis 4
American Snout Libytheana carinenta 1
Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia 11
Theona Checkerspot Thessalia theona 8
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 10
'Texan' Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana texana 21
Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos 1
Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta 2
American Lady Vanessa virginiensis 2
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 1
Tropical Buckeye (form nigrosuffusa) Junonia genoveva (form nigrosuffusa) 1
Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax 11 (arizonensis)
California Sister Adelpha bredowii 11
Tropical Leafwing Anaea aidea 1
Nabokov's Satyr Cyllopsis pyracmon 1
Red Satyr Megisto rubricata 15
Queen Danaus gilippus 3
Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus 1
Desert Cloudywing Achalarus casica 2
Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades 35
Acacia Skipper Cogia hippalus Adult 2
Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 4
Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 3
Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis 2 could be albescens
Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus 3
Deva Skipper Atrytonopsis deva 40
Python Skipper Atrytonopsis python 8
Large Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes exoteria 1
Cassus Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes cassus 1

---

Date: 06/06/2004
Number of Species: 40
Number of Individuals: 253
Location:
Garden Canyon
AZ , USA   85613
Notes: Today, June 6,  Bob Behrstock, Robert and Dee Parks and Hank and Priscilla Brodkin checked the butterflies in Garden Canyon on Fort Huachuca - from 9:00AM to 2:00PM.
The weather was warm and clear.  Nectar sources included thistle species, False Indigo, Sweet Clover, and Butterfly Weed and other species of milkweed.

-==| List of Sightings for this Field Trip |==-

Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor  5
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata  5
Checkered White Pontia protodice  7
Southern Dogface Colias cesonia  10
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae  3
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana  7
Mimosa Yellow Eurema nise Adult 1
Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus 12
Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus 23
Leda Ministreak Ministrymon leda 3
Marine Blue Leptotes marina 20
Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus 3
Reakirt's Blue Hemiargus isola 11
Arizona Metalmark Calephelis arizonensis 5
American Snout Libytheana carinenta 2
Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia 7
Theona Checkerspot Thessalia theona 3
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 12
Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas 3
Elada Checkerspot Texola elada 8
'Texan' Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana texana 9
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia1
Tropical Buckeye (form nigrosuffusa) Junonia genoveva (form nigrosuffusa) 2
Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis arizonensis 6
California Sister Adelpha bredowii 16
Tropical Leafwing Anaea aidea  2
Nabokov's Satyr Cyllopsis pyracmon 5
Red Satyr Megisto rubricata 7
Queen Danaus gilippus Adult 5
Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus 1
Arizona Skipper Codatractus arizonensis 1
Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades 16
Acacia Skipper Cogia hippalus 2
Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 3
Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 3
Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis 2: could be White
Erichson's White-Skipper Heliopetes domicella  1: photos
Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus 1
Deva Skipper Atrytonopsis deva 17
Python Skipper Atrytonopsis python 3

---

From Hank Brodkin
Date: 05/31/2004
Number of Species: 27
Number of Individuals: 282
Location:
Villa Verde
SON , MEXICO  
Notes: Bob Behrstock, Juan Caisedo, Jenny Duberstein and Hank Brodkin went to this wetland area 15 miles south of the Arizona/Mexico Border.
We were there for about 10:00AM to 2:00PM. Sky clear, temperature in the mid-eighties and no wind.

-==| List of Sightings for this Field Trip |==-

Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor  6
Checkered White Pontia protodice  11
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme  1
Southern Dogface Colias cesonia  9
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae  5
Boisduval's Yellow Eurema boisduvaliana  1
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana  17
Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe  13
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 15
Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus  1
Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile  10
Marine Blue Leptotes marina  100
Reakirt's Blue Hemiargus isola  50
Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis 4
Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia  5
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia  1
'Texan' Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana texana  7
Painted Crescent Phyciodes picta  1
Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa  4
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 2
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 1
Viceroy Limenitis archippus  4
Queen Danaus gilippus t 9
Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis  1
Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis  2 Could be albescens
Desert Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus philetas  1
Dotted Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes eos 1

---

5-22-04

Within the last few days individuaul Mimosa Yellows  (Eurema nise) have been seen in Peppersauce Canyon (Richard Bailowitz) and in Garden Canyon (Hank Brodkin and Bob Behrstock).
Jim Brock found a very rare Faceted Skipper (Synapte syraces) near Pena Blanca Lake.

 
Soapberry Hairstreak  Phaeostrymon alcestis Carr Canyon 5-19-04 HB

                Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva Ft. Huachuca 4/16/04 HB                                  Zela metalmark Emesis zela Ft. Huachuca 4/16/04 HB

From Jim Brock, Tucson, 22 September, 2003

Had Lerodea arabus (Violet-clouded Skipper) in the yard this morning. First sighting in the yard since 24 March 2002. Yes!!! Also, lots of Large Orange Sulphurs in the neighborhood with 4 or 5 seen every day. It's been a while since I've seen them this common here near the base of the Santa Catalina's. This indicates caterpillars in the neighborhood where many Lysiloma have been planted.

Today I saw two WHITE ANGLED-SULPHURS, Anteos chlorinde at Barfoot Park at over 8000 feet in the Chiricahua Mts, Cochise Co., AZ. One was rather ratty and flying through the fir forest, while the other was immaculate, bounding across the meadow, showing clearly the orange-yellow bar on the forewing. It
lit briefly, to hang and nectar from a flower, then took off through the  pine-fir forest. What an out-of-place habitat for such a tropical butterfly!
There were also lots of PAINTED LADIES, a few RED-BORDERED SATYRS, and not
much else. Notably absent were Chiricahua Pine Whites. Maybe it's still a
little early for them.

From Hank Brodkin, Hereford, September 13

This morning we had our first Arizona Giant-Skipper Agathymus aryxna join us for coffee.

Yesterday:

Date: 09/12/2003
Number of Species: 29
Location:
Carr Canyon, Hereford
AZ , USA   85615
Notes: From 10:00AM until 12:00N the following species visited our tiny garden in lower Carr Canyon.
It was a beautiful day - clear sky, temperature averaged in the low 80's.

-==| List of Sightings |==-
Common Name Scientific Name Life Stage Number Seen Notes
Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor Adult X
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae Adult X
Lyside Sulphur Kricogonia lyside Adult X
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana Adult X
Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe Adult X
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole Adult X
'Siva' Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva Adult X
Leda Ministreak Ministrymon leda Adult X
Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile Adult X
Marine Blue Leptotes marina Adult X
Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus Adult X
Ares Metalmark Emesis ares Adult X
American Snout Libytheana carinenta Adult X
Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia Adult X
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia Adult X
American Lady Vanessa virginiensis Adult X
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Adult X
Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax Adult X ovipositing on exotic
Black Cottonwood
California Sister Adelpha bredowii Adult X
Monarch Danaus plexippus Adult X
Queen Danaus gilippus Adult X
Dull Firetip Pyrrhopyge araxes Adult X
Dorantes Longtail Urbanus dorantes Adult X
Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos Adult X
Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis Adult X
Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis Adult X
White Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus albescens Adult X might be communis
Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus Adult X
Sheep Skipper Atrytonopsis edwardsii Adult X

From Rich Hoyer, Tucson, Thursday, September 11

Yesterday I hiked up Pima Canyon a few miles north of my home in north-central Tucson, expressly hoping to find my lifer ERICHSON'S WHITE-SKIPPER. Things weren't looking so good most of the morning, with overcast skies and even a couple light showers. But as it warmed up, activity picked up, and looking carefully at every mallow (I was unsure what the host plant, Bladder-Mallow, looked like) finally resulted in at least four of the beauties at a spot a little over a mile up from the trailhead. As I watched my first one, it began interacting with another, and before I knew it they were joined at the abdomen. I got some photos of this pair, the host plant, and another individual basking on a cactus.
The most butterfly activity was at some Seep-willow about 1.5 miles up the canyon, with Fatal, Palmer's, and Mormon Metalmarks, Leda Ministreak, and a Monarch being the highlights there. American Snouts were abundant
everywhere. Elsewhere, a White Angled-Sulphur flew by and a Tailed Orange skulked in the undergrowth.

Date: 09/08/2003
Number of Species: 32

Location:
Garden Canyon
AZ , USA   85613
Notes: Garden Cayon was in great shape today.  Many butterflies and much nectar with water in the upper half of the canyon approaching normal.  partly Cloudy, 76 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit.  10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

-==| List of Sightings for this Field Trip |==-
Common Name Scientific Name Life Stage Number Seen Notes
Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor Adult A
Giant Swallowtail Papilio cresphontes Adult U
Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata Adult F
Checkered White Pontia protodice Adult A
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme Adult C
Southern Dogface Colias cesonia Adult F
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae Adult S
White-angled Sulphur Anteos chlorinde Adult C
Lyside Sulphur Kricogonia lyside Adult F
Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana Adult A
Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe Adult C
Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole Adult U
Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus Adult U
Marine Blue Leptotes marina Adult F
Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus Adult C
Reakirt's Blue Hemiargus isola Adult C
Spring Azure Celastrina ladon Adult C
American Snout Libytheana carinenta Adult U
Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia Adult A
Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia Adult A
American Lady Vanessa virginiensis Adult F
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Adult A
Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax Adult A
California Sister Adelpha bredowii Adult S
Nabokov's Satyr Cyllopsis pyracmon Adult S
Red-bordered Satyr Gyrocheilus patrobus AdultS
Monarch Danaus plexippus Adult F
Queen Danaus gilippus Adult C
Dull Firetip Pyrrhopyge araxes Adult A
Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis Adult F
Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis Adult U
White Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus albescens Adult U might be communis
Common Sootywing Pholisora catullus Adult U

From Rich Bailowitz, 03 November, 2002

Doug Danforth and I were in California Gulch on Saturday as well and had a few things of interest, butterfly wise.  We hadKricogonia lyside, my only one this year so far.  Also we had Eurema proterpia, also my first one this year.  Finally wehad Chiomara asychis, again my first for the year.  These along with halesus, melinus, nemesis, sennae, philetas eufala, and campestris - all of which I believe you people missed.  Where was the istapa?  That's always a good find.  How's the Chrysothamnus around your house?  Keep your eyes peeled; we're not done yet.
Doug and I had 24 species of odonates that day, 19 of them at the Gulch.

From Cheri Melton, Hereford, 20 September, 2002

.....this morning about 9 am in the garden we had the following butterflies:
Monarch
Queen - 15+  (lots of males)
pipevine swallowtail
black swallowtail
tiny checkerspot
common checkered skipper
cabbage white
southern dogface
cloudless sulphur
painted lady
sleepy orange
marine blue
leda ministreak
gray hairstreak
ceranus blue

plus one pupating queen caterpillar - of course I am out of slide film so
taking digital pictures of the event

good to see butterflies finally dancing in the garden :)    Cheri

From Hank Brodkin, 16 September, 2002

September 3 though 5 Kim Garwood, Molly Pollock, Priscilla and Hank Brodkin left Alamos, Sonora for Yecora.  We saw the following species (subject to change if new information is received):

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
Black Swallowtail (P. polyxenes)
Two-tailed Swallowtail (P.multicaudata
White-angled Sulphur (Anteos chlorinde)
Yellow-angled Sulphur (A. maerula)
Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside)
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe)
Orange-barred Sulphur (P. philea)
Cloudless Sulphur (P. sennae)
Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia)
Sleepy Orange (Eureme nicippe)
Tailed Orange (E. proterpia)
Boisduval's Yellow (E. boisduvaliana)
Barred Yellow (E. daira)
Mexican Yellow (E. mexicana)
Mexican M Hairstreak (Parrhasius moctezuma)
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Tailess Scrub-Hairstreak (S. cestri)
Long-winged Greenstreak (Cyanophrys longula)
Clench's Greenstreak (C. miserabilis)
Mountain Groundstreak (Kisutam guzanta)
Clytie Ministreak (Ministrymon clytie)
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)
Reakirt's Blue (H. isola)
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
Tiny Metalmark (Adelotypa eudocia)
Hepburn's Metalmark (Apodemia hepburni)
Hypoglaucus Metalmark (A. hypoglauca)
Palmer's Metalmark (A. palmeri)
Ares Metalmark (Emesis ares)
Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis)
Poeas Metalmark (E. poeas)
Zela Metalmark (E. zela)
California Sister (Adelpha bredowii)
Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis)
Dingy Purplewing (Eunica monima)
Blackened Bluewing (Muscelia cyanthe)
Black-patched Cracker (Hamadryas atlantis)
Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas)
Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada)
Hepburn's Checkerspot (Texola hepburni)
Theona (Brock's) Checkerspot (Thassalia theona)
Texan cresent (Anthanassa texana)
Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lavinia)
(Red-spotted) Patch (C. marina)
Rosita Patch (C. rosita)
Elf (Micortia elva)
Variagated Fritillary (Eupoieta claudia)
Mexican Fritillary (E. hegesia)
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
Queen (Danaus gilippus)
Tropical Buckeye (Junonia nigrosuffusa)
Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata)
Variable Satyr (Pindix squamistrigia)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
Dull Firetip (Pyrrhpyge araxes)
Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus)
Desert Cloudywing (Achalarus casica)
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
White-patched Duskywing (Chiomara georgina)
Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis)
White-striped Longtail (Chioides catillus)
Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes)
Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus Ceos)
Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)
Wind's Silverdrop (Epargeus windi)
Golden Banded-Skipper (Autochton cellus)
White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens)
Desert Checkered-Skipper (P. philetas)
Arizona Skipper (Codatractus arizonensis)
Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus)
Laviana White-Skipper (Heliopetes laviana)
Many-spotted Skipperling (Piruna aea)
Samenta Skipper (Ochlodes samenta)
Sheep Skipper (Atrytonopsis edwardsi)
Southern Skipperling (Copaeodes minimus)
Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala)
Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus)
Brock's Roadside-Skipper (A. brocki)
Elissa Roadside-Skipper (A. elissa)
Prenda Roadside-Skipper (A. tolteca)

From Hank Brodkin, 15 September, 2002

We went, with friends from Phoenix, butterflying in Garden Canyon.  While it looks green and healthy and moist, butterfly species and numbers are way down. By far the most common bug was the Dull Firetip (Pyrrhopyge araxes).  Giant Skippers, probably Arizona lower down and Huachuca higher up were out were also in numbers.

Species:
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philinor)
Two-tailed Swallowtail (Pailio multicaudata)
Southern Dogface (Colias cessonia)
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)
Reakirt's Blue (H. isola)
Spring Azure (Celestrina ladon)
Ares Metalmark (Emesis ares)
Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
Painted Lady (V. cardui)
Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis)
California Sister (Adelpha bredowii)
Nabakov's Satyr (Cyllopsis pyracmon)
Red-bordered Satyr (Gyrocheilus patrobas)
Dull Firetip (Pyrrhopyge araxes)
Desert Cloudywing (Achalarus casica)
White/Common Checkered-Skipper
(Pyrgus albescens/communis)
Sheep Skipper (Atrytonopsis edwardsi)
Arizona Giant-Skipper (Agathymus aryxna)
Huachuca Giant-Skipper (A. evansi)

From Karen Hillson, Tucson - 21 August, 2002

I returned from vacation August 20 to discover over forty (!) Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars on cultivated pipevine (Aristolochia fimbriata).  Several leaves also had clusters of eggs.  Although A. fimbriata (sometimes
called Prostrate Dutchman's Pipe) is not native to Tucson, after almost two years it has finally attracted some attention.  Perhaps this is because I moved the plant (which is in a pot) to the front yard near a Mexican Bird of
Paradise, one of the butterfly's favorite nectar plants.

Sheep Skipper Atrytonopsis edwardsii Carr Canyon 14 July, 2002  and (right) 28 August, 2002 HB

From Hank Brodkin, July 14, 2002

A very bright male Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe) was just in my yard in Cochise County, AZ.
Also this morning a Sheep Skipper (Atrytononopsis edwardsii) was on my Lantana.

Sherry Williamson reported a Nais Metalmark at Beattys' Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon in the Huachucas on 10, July, 2002.

From Hank Brodkin, 1 July, 2002

Yesterday Doug Danforth, Tom Deecken, Arnie Moorehouse, Sandy Upson and I went down to Cajon Bonita, a private ranch, east of Agua Prieta, Sonora.
Below is a list of species scene.

Date: 06/30/2002
Number of Species: 27
Number of Individuals: 189
Location:
Cajon Bonita
SON , MEXICO
Notes: Clear and Hot
Species and individuals few

List of Sightings for this Field Trip:

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) F
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) 1
Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) F
Tailed Orange (Eurema proterpia) 1
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) U
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) 1
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) 1
Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda) 1
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) A
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) U
Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola) U
Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis) 1
Arizona Metalmark (Calephelis arizonensis) 3
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) 1
'Texan' Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana texana) 3
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) 2
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) 2
Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia) 1
Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata) F
Queen (Danaus gilippus) A
Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus) 2
Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos) 2
Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis) 1
Desert Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus philetas) 2
Southern Skipperling (Copaeodes minimus) C
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) 1
Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus) 1
 

June 29, 2002
Sherry Williamson reported a Chiricahua White in Miller Canyon above the Beattys' Guest Ranch.

White-Striped Longtail Choides catillus

2 in Box Canyon on SEABA Field Trip on 5/19/02
1 reported from Beattys' Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon on 5/20/02 (Car1 and Bev Swafford)
Another at the same location on 5/26/02 (Rich Hoyer)

From Molly Pollock, Tucson - May 1, 2002
LOCATIONS:

4/22 - 6:30 - 9:00 am Madera Hummingbird Banding 10:30 - 11:30 am
Florida Canyon 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Box Canyon Wash Crossing
4/23 - 7:30 - 10:30 am Lake Patagonia 12:00 - 12:30 Patton's
4/24 - 7:00 - 9:00 am Sabino Canyon 9:30 - 10:30 - Ventana Canyon - Reid
Park early afternoon
4/25 - 7:30 - 10:30 am Miller Canyon 12:00 - 1:30 Brodkins 3:30 - 6:30
Beatty's
4/26 - 6:00 - 9:00 am Beatty's 12:00 pm on - Cave Creek camping
4/27 - Cave Creek & Portal birding - all day - owling at night
4/28 - Cave Creek am birding - mid-day - Rustler and Bar Foot - end of
day - Wilcox ponds
4/29 - 8:30 - 10:30 am Lower Mt. Lemmon - Molino Campground, Prison's
Campground

BUTTERFLIES in no special order and not a single lady:

Pipevine Swallowtail
Sleepy Orange
Funereal Duskywing
Two-tailed Swallowtail
Nabakov Saytr
Mexican Yellow
Ceranus Blue
Marine Blue
Texan Crescent
Red-spotted Admiral
Giant Cloudless Sulpher
Great Purple Hairstreak
Gray Hairstreak
Juniper Hairstreak  (Kim only)
Elada Checkerspot
Tiny Checkerspot
Cabbage White
Snout
Queen
Fatal Metalmark
Mourning Cloak
Empress Lelia
Carus Skipper
Common Streaky Skipper
White Checkered Skipper
Pearl Crescent
Vesta Crescent
Orange Skipperling
Golden-headed Scallopwing
Black Swallowtail
Satyr Comma
Short-tailed Skipper
Reikert's Blue
Juvenal's Duskywing (Arizona)
Mournful Duskywing
Mylitta Crescent
Spring Azure
Dainty Sulpher
Common Buckeye
California Sister (Arizona)
 
 
 

From Molly Pollock, Tucson - 22 April, 2002

Kim (Garwood) and I did a little butterflying today in Florida Wash and Box Canyon(that had a single flowering bush).  It was very quiet though we did manage to see a few things:

Texan Crescent
Tiny Checkerspot
Elada Checkerspot
Carus Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper spp.  (flyby)
Pipevine Swallowtail
Red-spotted Admiral
Dainty Sulpher
Golden-headed Scallopwing
Mourning Cloak
Orange Skipperling
Marine Blue
Spring Azure
Queen
Mexican Yellow

and some that we are still trying to sort through
 
 

From Jim Brock, 16 April, 2002

Went to Huachuca Canyon yesterday - 25 species including including 2 Black Checkerspots.
 
 

From Hank Brodkin 8 April, 2002

For those of you who asked - I finally got up Garden Canyon on 8 April and it is accessible, probably by ordinary car, all the way up to Sawmill.  You will need to get a permit for your vehicle at the entrance to the Ft.
Huachuca.
Ceanothus and Barberry are blooming and not much else.  Most of the butterflies were nectaring on Ceanothus.
Between 1:30 and 3:00 PM the following species were seen:

28 Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus Philenor)
2   Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicuadata)
1   Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
2   Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana)
1   Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus)
1   Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus)
6   Juniper Hairstreak (C. gryneus siva)
2   Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
9   Arizona Hairstreak (Erora quaderna)
1   Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola)
6   Spring Azure (Celestrina agriola)
1   Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis)
15 Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela)
1   American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
12 Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana)
6   Mylitta Crescent (P. mylitta)
1   California Sister (Adelpha bredowii) very worn
1   Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
2   Short-tailed Skipper (Zestusa dorus)
4   Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis)
1   Funereal Duskywing (E. funeralis)
1   White/Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens/communis)
5   White-barred Skipper (Atrytonopsis pittacus)

In addition in my yard near the bottom of Carr Canyon:
1  Sheep Skipper (Atrytonopsis edwardsi)
1  Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska)
 
 

From Kenn Kaufman, Tucson, 7 April, 2002

Systasea zampa (AZ Powdered Skipper) ovipositing the last couple of days on the lone Abutilon palmeri in my wife's garden.  It may be the only Abutilon within a quarter mile.  But since it's watered, it's probably in better shape than any of the plants out in the (currently drought-stricken) wild.  Skippers gotta go where the food is.

From Priscilla Brodkin, Hereford, 27 March, 2002

The following species were seen on 3/27/02 at Beatty's Guest Ranch http://personal.riverusers.com/~beattybb/ Miller Canyon, Cochise County, AZ by Priscilla Brodkin, Mary Sue Miller, Mary Shepherd, Bev Stevenson, and Julie from L.A.

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudatus)
Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
Pearly Marble (Euchloe hyantis)
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana)
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Arizona Hairstreak (Erora quaderna)
Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela)
Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta)
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargeryus clarus)
Short-tailed Skipper (Zestusa dorus)
Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo)
Mournful Duskywing (E. tristis)
Funereal Duskywing (E. funeralis)
Common/White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis/albescens)
White-barred Skipper (Atrytonopsis pittacus)
 
 

From Hank Brodkin, Hereford, 27 March, 2002

With the weather warming up the following species were seen in our yard in Carr Canyon today:
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Pearly Marble (Euchloe hyantis)
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
Short-tailed Skipper (Zestusa dorus) good flight year in the Huachucas for
this bug
White-barred Skipper (Atrytonopsis pittacus)
 
 

From Norma Miller, Tucson, 20 March, 2002

While hiking Peck Canyon yesterday (3/21) with two others, we saw our first Question Mark (polygonia interrogationis) ever.  It was the orange form and was seen sitting along thecreek rocks about 1/2 mile into the public lands section of the canyon.  Hackberries abound in this canyon.  Peck Canyon is exit 22 from I-19 going west into the AtascosaMts. via FR 818.

From John Gerdes, Tucson, 15 March, 2002

Hello, Hank, I have been wanting to relay the results of two field trips that my friend George Hentz and I went on, but things kept getting in the way --- like chasing and identifying butterflies. Both trips were to Peppersauce Canyon, the first on February 28, the second on March 7.  On Februay 28 we observed (and photographed many of)the following:
     common buckeye
     mourning cloak
     painted lady
     Texan crescent
     acmon blue
     spring azure
     juniper hairstreak
     brown elfin
     orange sulphur
     pearly marble
     spring white
     pipevine swallowtail
     southern dogface
     sleepy orange
     sara orangetip
     pima desert orangetip
     anicia variable checkerspot
     common/white checkered skipper
     golden-headed scallopwing
     great purple hairstreak
     Arizona powdered skipper

Nearly all of these were nectaring on just two or three manzanita shrubs in full bloom; little else was in bloom, except for a few mustard plants, probably Draba sp.  The canyon itself ,of course, was extremely dry.  On
March 7, we observed the following species:

     acmon blue
     spring azure
      buckeye
     variable checkerspot
     snout butterfly
     orange sulphur
     dogface
     spring white
     pearly white
     admiral
     painted lady
     sleepy  duskywing
     mournful duskywing
     sara orangetip
     zela metalmark
     mourning cloak
     Mexican yellow
     sleepy orange
     golden headed scallopwing
     brown elfin
 Our ³hot spot² manzanita of the previous week had only dried flowers, but a
few smaller shrubs still had some fresh blossoms.  There seemed to be very
little else to sustain butterflies.  Good luck on Saturday!
 
 

From Karen Hillson, Tucson, March 11

On Wednesday, February 27, I spotted an Arizona Powdered Skipper in my yard.  It rested with wings partially closed for almost an hour, but when it finally spread its wings just before taking flight, I could make a positive
identification.
A Sleepy Orange and a Common Checkered Skipper were seen on March 5.

From Melody Kehl, Tucson, 25 February, 2002

Thought you might like to know. . . had both Sara and Pima Orangetips in Molino Canyon yesterday.  Marbled was there also.

From Hank and Priscilla Brodkin, Hereford, 13 January, 2002

Hi temps being in the 60's here in sunny (too sunny - we need rain badly) southeastern Arizona brought the following to our backyard this afernoon:
One each:
Southern Dogface ( Colias cesonia )
Red Admiral ( Vanessa atalanta )
Spring Azure(Celastrina ladon )
 
 

From Jim Brock, Tucson, 1 January, 2002

Here in Tucson, AZ, its mild and sunny with good butterfly activity in the backyard today. The list...

Mexican Yellow        E. mexicana
Lyside Sulphur          K. lyside        ( a real surprise and a fresh specimen!)
Painted Lady             V. cardui        ( a few rag tag individuals)
American Snout        L. carinenta
Texan Crescent         A. texana       (specimen in great shape)
Funereal Duskywing  E. funeralis      ( a fresh one! )

All in all, a great start to backyard butterflies in 2002! Hope your backyard buttterfly garden yields great butterflies in 2002, also!!
 
 

From Jim Brock, Tucson, 25 December 2001

Greetings and happy holidays lepsters!

Hanging around the yard today on a mild winter day in Tucson, AZ., had the following:

Checkered White      P. protodice (fresh male dark underside)
Mexican Yellow        E. mexicana
Fatal Metalmark       C. nemesis
Reakirt's Blue         H. isola         a few caterpillars (no adults) on my Dalea versicolor (Indigo Bush)
Painted Lady         V. cardui

From Karen Hillson, Tucson, 10 December 2001

On December 10 I counted twenty (!) Monarch caterpillars and six Queen caterpillars on Asclepias tuberosa.  When the leaves are gone they eat the milkweed pods.

From Noel McFarland, Ash Canyon, Hereford - 24 November 2001

Boisduval's Yellow - fresh, in garden.

From Jim Brock, Tucson, 22 November 2001

Happy Thanksgiving to all,

Not traditionally a great day for butterflies but counted 12 species in the yard today between 12 and 1PM MST here in Tucson, AZ.
Was slightly cooler than past days and definitely less active as far as the butterflies were concerned.

Mexican Yellow        E. mexicana
Boisduval's Yellow    E. boisduvaliana
Sleepy Orange         E. nicippe
Dainty Sulphur          N. iole
Cloudless Sulphur     P. sennae
Reakirt's Blue           H. isola
Leda Ministreak        M. leda
American Snout        L. carinenta
Painted Lady            V. cardui
Texan Crescent        A. texana
Queen                     D. gilippus
Gulf Fritillary             A. vanillae

From Jim Brock, Tucson, 13 November, 2001

Hello again,

Had a couple of exciting visitors to the backyard butterfly garden yesterday (Monday Nov. 12) along with a few others I did not see Sunday.

Around noon a female Boisduval's Yellow (Eurema boisduvaliana) appeared and proceeded to lay many eggs on a few of my Senna hirsuta or the Senna formerly known as leptocarpa (longpod senna). Minutes later a female Mimosa Sulphur (Eurema nise) appeared and took nectar from many of my twin seed (Dicliptera resupinata) plants.

Also making an appearance yesterday not on Sunday's list:

Funereal Duskywing      E. funeralis
Fiery Skipper                H. phyleus
Dainty Sulphur              N. iole
Ceraunus Blue              H. ceraunus

From Cheri Melton, Hereford, `13 November, 2001

I wanted to let you all know how much I've enjoyed the posts on butterflies sightings - especially the ones from your backyards.  It has been unseasonable warm in the High Desert of Cochise County - usually we have our first light frost by now. This weekend while harvesting the last of the summer vegetables I made note of the butterflies seen in my garden:

Pipevine Swallowtail (flew through the garden terrorizing the Painted Ladies!)
Checkered White
Mexican Yellow
Sleepy Orange
Lyside Sulphur
Dainty Sulpfur
Southern Dogface
Reakirt's Blue
Ceraunus Blue
Marine Blue
Western Pygmy Blue (laying eggs on Russian Thistle aka Tumblewwed)
Great Purple Hairstreak
Leda Ministreak (winter form)
Fatal Metalmark
Gulf Fritillary  (also have caterpillars on the passion vines)
Variegated Fritillary
Painted Lady
Texan Crescent
Queen
and a handful of skippers that I could not ID

Nectar plants in the garden were Dalea bicolor var. bicolor - Dalea; Cosmos sulphureus - Cosmos; Tithonia rotundifolia - Mexican Torch Flame; and Tagetes lemmonii - Mt. Lemmon Marigold.

From 1996 to date I have had 51 species of butterflies in the garden.  New butterflies this year are Fatal Metalmark, Mallow-Scrub Hairstreak, Red Admiral, Lyside Sulpfur; Texan Crescent; Dark Tropical Buckeye, Hackberry Emperor.

We had a good year for Monarchs - I started a new garden this spring - the Milkweed garden - and this fall the plants were loadedwith Monarch and Queen caterpillars.  At one time I counted 17 Monarch caterpillars on one plant alone!
The dates for our Monarch migration though my Hereford garden:
Sunday August 12, 5:13 pm heading S
Monday August 13, 8:30 am heading S
                             6:00 pm heading SE
                            (this day was the discovery of Monarch caterpillars on plants)
Friday August 17, 4:00 pm heading SE (high winds - storm rolling in)
Saturday August 18, 10:35 am, heading S,
                               10:50 am heading SE
                                3:30 pm heading SW
Tuesday August 28, 4:00 pm female nectaring on Cosmos
Saturday September 2, first Monarch hatch of the garden - it was tagged.  Also observed tattered female laying eggs on milkweed
Saturday September 22, monarch nectaring on Mexican Torch Flame
 
 

From Jim Brock in Tucson, 12 November, 2001
 

Greetings fellow southwest butterfly watchers,

Stayed around home yesterday and the yard is still quite busy. Here are the butterflies seen under low 80 degree temps here in
Tucson in my butterfly garden...

Mexican Yellow     E. mexicana
Sleepy Orange       E. nicippe
Lyside Sulphur       K. lyside  both white and yellow and fresh
Southern Dogface   Z. cesonia
Cloudless Sulphur  P. sennae
Reakirt's Blue        H. isola
Great Purple Hairstreak    A. halesus
Leda Ministreak      M. leda f. ines
Gulf Fritillary           A. vanillae
American Snout      L. carinenta
Red Admiral            V. atalanta
Painted Lady           V. cardui
Empress Leilia        A. leilia
Texan Crescent       A. texana
Queen                    D. gilippus
Monarch                 D. plexippus

From Bill in Tucson,  9 November 2001

Howdy folks.  I was informed that Bob Stewart, Hank and Priscilla Brodkins new book, Butterflies of Arizona, A Photographic Guide was available now and may be had at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.  Perfect, a nice motorcycle ride,  two hours early for work sounded like just the ticket.  Heck, its only 80 degrees and sunny, and a ride through the Saguaro National Park cant be beat.  So, off I went, thinking I would go in, get the book and then have a nice stroll and see all the cool desert critters.  Well, I got the book and it is fantastic. Everything an Arizona collector could ever ask for.  As far as seeing all the critters, well, I got as far as the butterfly garden and didnt go another step.  Wow, what terrific sight, butterflies all over the place, and in Mid-November.
 I highly recommend a quick trip to all the locals before it gets cold.  The highlights were the Columella Hairstreak and the Common Mestra.  (Hadnt seen one of those in years)  Below is a list of the others;
Monarch
Queen
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Black Buckeye
Variagated Fritillary
Gulf Fritillary
Texas Crescent
Snout
Nemesis Metal-Mark
Great Purple Hairstreak
Marina Blue
Pygmy Blue
Mexican Sulpher
Orange Sulpher
Sleepy Orange-Eurema nicippe
Lyside Butterfly
Dogface Butterfly
Dainty Yellow
And 4 Unidentified skippers,  2 Duckywings, a checkered Skipper and a small
Gray colored dude.
It was a fine day out.
    Cheers all,   Bill in Tucson
 
 

From Noel McFarland, Ash Canyon, (5100' )Hereford - 8 November, 2001

Boisduval's Yellow (Eurema boisduvaliana) female nectaring on rosemary.
Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe) male nectaring on Salvia.

From Karen Hillson, Tucson -  8 November, 2001

November 8:  Boisduval's Yellow (Eurema boisduvaliana) fluttered through the  thick brush in my garden for almost an hour, tasting many plants but laying eggs only on Senna leptocarpa (which still has considerable foliage due to the warm weather).  I have grown S. leptocarpa for three years, but this is the first sighting of E. boisduvaliana in my yard.  Two days ago I spotted a Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside).

From Rich Bailowitz 4 November

Several times when Sandy and I were doing our surveys of that region, we had ocola in the morning.
Also, I had a Mestra amymone at Catalina St.Park yesterday.  Usually where there's one, there's more than one.  Keep your eyes peeled for that species as well.

From Kenn Kaufman 1 October, 2001

The morning of Sept. 30 in Tucson was partly overcast and very windy,gusting to over 35 mph, seemingly not good conditions for leps.  Inchecking the back yard, however, I was surprised to find a Lerodea arabus (so-called Violet-clouded Skipper).  This is not a rare bug inthis region but it is distinctly uncommon.  Although I have found the species in foothill canyons at the edge of the nearby Santa Catalina Mts., and although it reportedly persists in small numbers in Tucson itself, this was the first one I'd seen in this particular yard in a decade of watching.  I couldn't help wondering if the wind might have been a factor -- violent gusty wind perhaps displacing this skipper a short distance away from its normal haunts.

From Hank Brodkin 26 September, 2001

Today in our back yard we had another White-angled Sulphur (Anteos chlorinde) and a Texas Powdered-Skipper (Systacea pulverulenta). This would be the third Cochise County record according to Rich Bailowitz.  I was able to observe it through 8X42 binoculars and noticed the straight smooth hyaline line in the center of the forewing.  This individual had no hook even on the outside of this line.

From Karen Hillson 23 September, 2001

One of the Buckeyes I raised on Galvezia juncea emerged from its chrysalis today (September 23).  It was a Tropical Buckeye J. nigrosuffusa!  For those living in the Tucson area, I highly recommend G. juncea as a
hummingbird plant and as a foodplant for Common and Tropical Buckeyes.  (It is frost sensitive.)

21 September, 2001

Cheri Melton reported an Elf Microtia elva at the Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon in the Huachucas today.

From Hank and Priscilla Brodkin, 20 September, 2001

Last Saturday we spotted some 5 indivuals of Erichson's White-SkipperHeliopetes domicella in Gold Gulch, Cochise County.
Today we were at the Polinator Garden at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  Among the many butterflies present were at least 20 individuals of this species.

From Hank Brodkin (Hereford), 5 September 2001

Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis arizonensis ovipositing on nursery Cottonwoods, probably Populus balsamifera.  Eggs deposited on upper surface in tip of leaf.

From Janine McCabe,

Last week along the San Pedro River, I think it was on thursday the 30th,  I  saw an Urbanus Durantes, Durantes Longtail!  Is that cool or what?
Today, which was my birthday, I went to Barfoot Park in the Chiricahuas to look for the Short-tailed hawk.  I hiked to the lookout and around 1:00pm an Anteos Chlorinde came to nectar at these pinkish-red tubular flowers.  It was so amazing!!!!  I loved that!

Janine McCabe

From Sheri Williamson (Bisbee), 30 August 2001

After spending way too much of yet another butterfly season indoors, I was delighted to look out the kitchen window and see an odd-looking skipper at our lantana. A closer look revealed a worn Zilpa Longtail, yard lep #81 and a U.S. lep for me.

From Karen Hillson (Tucson), 27 August 2001

On August 15, a Tropical Buckeye (Junonia genoveva nigrosuffusa) oviposited on Galvezia juncea.  Common Buckeyes had laid eggs on this Baja native earlier in the season, but this was the first time Tropical Buckeye was seen doing so.  I am raising a caterpillar (presumably J. nigrosuffusa) found on
the plant.

On August 27, a Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) was observed laying eggs on   Velvet Mimosa (Mimosa dysocarpa).

I am also raising a few Monarch caterpillars that were found on Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa).  The plant is also supporting numerous Queen larvae.
 
 

From Hank & Priscilla Brodkin,  27 August 2001

Yesterday morning at the corner of Carr Canyon RD and SR 92 in Hereford, AZ we photographed a Toltec Roadside Skipper (Amblyscirtes tolteca (=prenda))
 
 

From Jim Brock, 24 August 2001

Good evening all,

Had good butterfly activity in the yard this morning [ in Tucson] so decided to count the species for the day. Here's the list of butterflies seen in the yard today:

*  means just one individual seen

Pipevine Swallowtail          B. philenor
Giant Swallowtail              P. cresphontes
Checkered White              P. protodice
Cloudless Sulphur             P. sennae
Lyside Sulphur                  K. lyside
Southern Dogface              C. cesonia
Sleepy Orange                  E. nicippe
*Tailed Orange                  E. proterpia
Gray Hairstreak                 S. melinus
*Great Purple Hairstreak    A. halesus
Ceraunus Blue                 H. ceraunus
*Reakirt's Blue                  H. isola
*Marine Blue                     L. marina
Palmer's Metalmark           A. palmeri
Fatal Metalmark                C. nemesis
*Gulf Fritillary                    A. vanillae
*Bordered Patch                C. lacinia  + caterpillars
*Tiny Checkerspot              D. dymas
*Elada Checkerspot            T. elada
*American Lady                  V. virginiensis
Painted Lady                      V. cardui
Texan Crescent                  A. texana
American Snout                 L. carinenta
*Empress Leilia                    A. leilia
Queen                                D. gilippus
*Dorantes Longtail                U. dorantes
*Golden-headed Scallopwing  S. ceos
*Arizona Powdered Skipper    S. zampa
*Common Checkered Skipper P. communis
*Funereal Duskywing            E. funeralis
Fiery Skipper                       H. phyleus
*Orange Skipperling               C. aurantiacus
 

Jim Brock

From David Powell, 21 August 2001:

I visited SE Arizona 8-12 Aug to look for butterflies.  I had weather  problems (overcast skies) the first two days, then the weather rounded into good shape for butterflies.  Pierids were in good numbers, with lots of Southern Dogface, Cloudless Sulphurs, Mexican Yellow, and Tailed Oranges.  Other species in good numbers were Bordered Patch, Reakirt's,  Ceraunus, and Marine Blues, American Snout, Dull Firetip, and Desert Checkered-Skipper.  I saw a total of 86 species (depending on any unresolved ID issues).

Locations visited:
8/8 - Patagonia Butterfly Garden, Harshaw Creek, 34 species
Best sightings - Palmer's, Arizona, and Zela Metalmarks, Tiny and Elada Checkerspots (Tiny was quite common during the trip), and Pahaska Skipper
8/9 - Carr Canyon, 20 species (I had severe weather problems here, with only about 45 minutes of actual sunshine)
Best sightings - Eastern Tailed Blue (2), Scudder's Duskywing, Four-spotted Skipperling, Orange-headed Roadside-Skipper
8/10 - Garden Canyon, Sheelite Canyon, Florida Wash Area, 54 species
Best sightings - Ares Metalmark, Black Checkerspot, Mourning Cloak, Nabokov's Satyr, Juvenal's Duskywing, Edward's Skipperling, Moon-marked Skipper, Orange-edged Roadside-Skipper
8/11 - Sycamore Canyon, 47 species (could only get about half way down due to water)
Best sightings - White-angled Sulphur, Lyside Sulphur(15), Tailed Orange (50+), Arizona Metalmark (10), Fatal Metalmark, Red Satyr, Dull Firetip (100+), Desert Cloudywing, Arizona Powdered-Skipper, Common
Streaky-Skipper, Many-spotted Skipperling (4)
8/12 - Red Rock Canyon, Patagonia Butterfly Garden, 49 species
Best sightings - White-angled Sulphur, Fatal Metalmark, Many-spotted Skipperling, Sheep Skipper, Elissa Roadside-Skipper

If you would like more information, I have an excel spreadsheet with  more detailed information on it.  I also have video of most of these. They should be up on my web site in a couple of weeks.

Best regards,
Dave

--
David Powell
Brandon, FL
vireo@vireos.com
http://www.vireos.com/butterflies.html
 
 

From Hank Brodkin, 20 August 2001:

There seems to be a mini-invasion of Mexican Fritillary (Euptoieta hegesia) Tucson area gardens now.
 
 

From Rich Hoyer, 18 August 2001:

We didn't see any rare birds on our tour, but a few nice butterflies for a total list of 96 species (plus a Moon-marked seen by one participant and two more species seen only by Jim). We had 175 bird species. The rare
butterflies that I can think of were a Yellow Angled-Sulphur on Paul Spur/Border Road a few miles west of Douglas, two different White-striped Longtails (one in Box Canyon and one at the eastern base of Crump Hill right
by you), a Mimosa/Little Sulphur, and three very late Pine Satyrs at Rustler Park. Our biggest day list was 61 species, all but two in Guadalupe Canyon. We ran into Noel Snyder and Dick (can't remember last name, from
Paradise) going up the canyon also looking for butterflies.

From Ray Stanford, 16 August 2001:

You will know that I am responsible for plotting all records for Western North American butterflies and skippers, and that I keep running lists for known species from every county as well as hitlists for each one.  Paul Opler helps me, and he is responsible for doing many of the same things for moths.  We have been good friends since we were teenagers, yes, nearly a half century ago.

Cochise County, AZ, is one of the best-known counties in the US, and is second in species only to Hidalgo Co, TX, with 246 known butterfly species.  The "hitlist" for additions to Cochise Co includes only 4 possible breeding resident species, which begin the list which follows.  Jim Brock has looked for the appropriate larval foodplants there, but thus far has not found them. The other species would be strays from southward, but are known from one or more touching Arizona counties.   Aqui esta la lista:
       Codatractus mysie:  find Tephrosia leiocarpa, and you will probably find mysie as a breeding resident species.
       Atrytonopsis cestus: As I recall, there is a particular Koeleria grass species which serves as the larval host.
       Chlosyne californica: Suitable habitat and foodplants for this occur in the Little Dragoon Mountains in Cochise Co. Please look for it there!
       Phyciodes phaon:  There are surely suitable habitats with Lippia in Cochise County, but I know of none personally.

The remainder of this list consists of stray species, which should be looked for in Cochise County:
Proteides mercurius, Aguna asander, Polythrix mexicanus, Astraptes fulgerator, Bolla clytius, Chiomara mithrax,
Panoquina leucas=sylvicola,
Nyctelius nyctelius, Heraclides ornythion, Rekoa marius [=brescia=spurina], Hypostrymon critola, Calephelis dreisbachi, Chlosyne marina [=eumeda, check with Doug Mullins], Nymphalis milberti [stray from the north], Myscelia cyananthe, Hamadryas glauconome, Marpesia chiron, Anaea [Memphis] glycerium.

I hope this list is useful to you and others studying leps in southern Arizona.  Feel free to forward it along to others as you see
fit.

Cheers,  Ray Stanford

From Hank and Priscilla Brodkin 13 August

Last Friday and Saturday (August 10 and 11) our Butterfly Field Trips, both into Garden Canyon on Ft. Huchuca, yielded the following species:

Pipevine Swallowtail (B. philenor)
Giant swallowtail (P. cresphontes)
Two-tailed Swallowtail (P. multicaudata)
Checkered White (P. protodice)
Orange Sulphur (C. eurytheme)
Southern Dogface (C. cesonia)
White Angled-Sulphur (A. chlorinde)
Cloudless Sulphur (P. sennae)
Lyside Sulphur (K. lyside)
Boisduval's Yellow (E. boisduvalianum)
Mexican Yellow (E. mexicanum)
Tailed Orange (E. proterpia)
Sleepy Orange (E. nicippe)
Dainty Sulphur (N. iole)
Juniper Hairstreak (C. gryneus)
Gray Hairstreak (S. melinus)
Marine Blue (L. marina)
Ceraunus Blue (H. ceraunus)
Reakirt's Blue (H. isola)
Spring Azure (C. ladon)
Zela Metalmark (E. zela)
Ares metalmark (E. ares)
American Snout (L. carinenta)
Varigated Fritillary (E. claudia)
Theona Checkerspot (T. theona)
Bordered Patch (C. lacinia)
Pearl Crescent (P. tharos)
Mylitta Crescent (P. mylitta)
Mourning Cloak (N. antiopa)
American Lady (V. virginiensis)
Painted Lady (V. cardui)
Red Admiral) (V. atalanta)
Nabakov's Satyr (C. pyracmon)
Red Satyr (M. rubricata)
Queen (D. gilippus)
Dull Firetip (P. araxes)
Golden-banded Skipper (A. cellus)
Northern Cloudywing (T. pylades)
Drusius Cloudywing (T. drusius)
Golden-headed Cloudycwing (S. ceos)
Mournful Duskywing (E. tristis)
Pacuvius Duskywing (E. pacuvius)
Funereal Duskywing (E. funerealis)
Common/White Checkered-Skipper (P. communis/albescens)
Desert Checkered-Skipper (P. philetas)
Many-spotted Skipperling (P. cingo)
Clouded Skipper (L. accius)
Orange Sipperling (C. aurantiacus)
Taxiles Skipper (P. taxiles)
Moon-marked Skipper (A. lunus)
Large Roadside-Skipper (A. exoteria)
Cassus Roadside-Skipper (A. cassus)
Bronze Roadside-Skipper (A. aenus)
Orange-edged Roadside-Skipper A. frimbriata)

From Hank Brodkin 6 August, 2001

Friday, August 3, April Day, Fred Heath, and Hank and Priscilla Brodkin spent a productive day in the area of the Patagonia, Santa Cruz County, AZ, Count circle. In just four localities we identified 45 species - so Patagonia may rival this year's Huachuca Mountain Count which had a respectable unofficial 102 to 104 species on August 4.  The Patagonia Count is August 11. Southeastern Arizona Rules!
In the Patagonia area we covered Temporal Canyon and a nearby hilltop,
the Patagonia Butterfly Garden, the springs at Harshaw, and an area near
the "Roadside Rest".

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Two-tailed Swallowtail (P. multicaudata)
Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
Southern Dogface (C. cesonia)
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside)
Barred Yellow (Eurema daira)
Sleepy orange (E. nicippe)
Tailed Orange (E. proterpia)
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda)
Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon)
Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus iole)
Ceraunus Blue (H. ceraunus)
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
Palmer's Metalmark (Apodema palmeri)
Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
Varigated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)
Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas)
Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada)
Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana)
Painted Crescent (P. pictus)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Tropical Buckeye (Junonia genoveva)
Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis)
Queen (Danaus gilippus)
Dull Firetip (Pyrrhopyge araxes)
Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes)
Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus)
Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos)
Texas Powdered-Skipper (Systacea pulverulenta)
Common/White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis/albescens)
Common Sootwing (Pholisora catullus)
Many-spotted Skipperling (Piruna cingo)
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiacus)
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska)
Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus)
Elissa Roadside-Skipper (A. elissa)
Dotted Roadside-Skipper (A. eos)
 
 

From Kenn Kaufman 25 July, 2001

One of the pierids that regularly invades northward into Arizona in summer, especially in years when the
rains have been good in Sonora, is Kricogonia lyside (Lyside Sulphur).  These invasions often take the form
of simultaneous mass migrations.  Today (25 July 2001), such a mass flight was passing through the
northern foothills of Tucson.

At a point about half a mile south of Sabino Canyon visitor center, I first noticed numbers of K. lyside
flying past about 11:00 a.m. MST.   Individuals were passing at an estimated rate of 10 - 20 per minute.
Abandoning the work I should have been doing, I went out to make some serious counts.  Numbers increased rapidly, and during the period from about 11:20 to 11:50,  50 to 100-plus per minute passed
across a stretch of hillside about 30 yards wide. Virtually all individuals were flying toward the
northeast or east-northeast, a minority stopping briefly at nectar (Lantana, Ageratum, etc.).  Most
that I counted were within 20 or 30 feet of the ground, but occasional scans with binoculars
showed that others were going over much higher, perhaps 100 feet or more, traveling in the same
direction.  Numbers gradually tapered off after 12:00 but they were still passing at 10 - 20 per
minute at 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30 when I checked again.  During the peak passage I netted a few
dozen for examination and all were in fairly fresh condition or only slightly worn.

Checking with a couple of other naturalists by phone, I learned that Carl Englander was seeing
similar numbers at a point five miles west and one mile north of where I was (but his were
flying north or even north-northwest), while Rick Bowers watched for an extended period at a point twelve miles west of me and saw none at all.  Bowers's position was in the flats at some distance away from the mountains, while
Englander and I were at the immediate edge of the Santa Catalina Mountains; the concentrations
that we saw, as well as the difference in flight directions, could have been explained if the sulphurs had all come in from the south at a fairly high level but were detouring to go around
the mountains rather than over them.

A little past the peak of the flight, when I stood on a low ridge and looked toward a distant slope,
the foreshortened effect through binoculars made it look like a blizzard of creamy-white butterflies
was blowing past.  Pretty amazing spectacle. Certainly tens of thousands of K. lyside were
passing over Tucson today.  Anyone doing fieldwork to the north of here during the next
couple of weeks should keep an eye out for this species.

Kenn Kaufman
Tucson, AZ
 
 

From Hank Brodkin 13 July, 2001
I went in with bird banders to the Ajos/Bavispe Reserve just below the border between Naco and Cananea yesterday afternoon.  We drove the dirt roads in during a torrential monsoon downpour.  I was able to get in about an hour of butterflying in the late afternoon and about two hours this morning.  In a relatively small area around the headquarters at 1920 meters we saw about 30 species.  The most interesting was the Sonora Banded-Skipper (Autochton pseudocellus) which can be differentiated from the Golden Banded-Skipper (A. cellus) by the ring of white around the antennae just below the 'hook' on the Sonora.  There seemed to be about the same number of each species. The Sonora has been exterpated north of the border.

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)
Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
Southern Dogface (C. cesonia)
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicanum)
Colorado Hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus)
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola)
Spring Azure (Celestrina ladon)
Ares Metalmark (Emesis ares)
Black Checkerspot (Thesalia cyneas)
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
Painted Lady (V. cardui)
West Coast Lady (V. annabella)
Red Admiral (V.atalanta)
Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis)
California Sister (Adelpha bredowii)
Nabakov's Satyr (Cyllopsis pyracmon)
Arizona Skipper (Codatractus arizonensis)
Short-tailed Skipper (Zestusa dorus)
Golden-banded Skipper (Autochton cellus)
Sonora Banded-Skipper (C. pseudocellus)
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis)
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes auranticus)
Large Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes exoteria)
Slaty Roadside-Skipper (A. nereus)
 

From Hank Brodkin 20 June, 2001

20 June, 2001
Doug Danforth, Sandy Upson and I checked out Cluff Ranch Ponds in Pima west of Thatcher.  While they were concentrating on some 19 species of odanates I found 20 species of butterfly.  Cluff Ponds have the only known colony of Phaon Crescent in Arizona (if I'm wrong - please correct me).

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda) very common
Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exile)
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon)
Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis)
Varigated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon) very common with lippia foodplant
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Tropical Buckeye (J. genoveva)
Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia)
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
Queen (D. gilippus)
Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis)
White/Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens/communis)
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiacus)

From Markus Lindberg 19 June, 2001

> here are migrant records for the year 2001 that we talked about at  the phone earlier.
>
> Phoebis agarithe: 6 May, Elkhorn Canyon (Babo's), Pima Co, 1ex
> Phoebis philea: 10 Jun, San Pedro near St.David, Cochise Co, 1ex
> Eurema nise: 6 May, Elkhorn Canyon (Babo's), Pima Co, 1ex
>              9 Jun, Garden Canyon (Huachu's), Cochise Co, 1ex
>              17 Jun, Garden Canyon (Huachu's), Cochise Co, 2exx
> Eurema lisa: 19 May, California Gulch (Ata's), Sta Cruz Co, 1ex
> Eurema boisduvaliana: 15 May, Harshaw Creek (Pata's), Sta Cruz Co, 1ex
> Strymon columella: 24 Apr, Guadalupe Canyon (Pelo's), Cochise Co, 1ex
>                    9 Jun, Garden Canyon (Huachu's), Cochise Co, 1ex
> Aravacus jada: 28 Apr, Guadalupe Canyon (Pelo's), Cochise Co, 1ex
>                6 May, Elkhorn Canyon (Babo's), Pima Co, 1ex
> Polygonia interrogationis: 5 May, Espiritu Canyon (Red' Pass), Pima Co, 1ex
> Dione moneta: 26 May, Rose Peak (near Mogollon Rim), Greenlee Co, 1ex
> Euptoieta hegesia: 28 Apr, Guadalupe Canyon (Pelo's), Cochise Co, 1ex
> Pyrgus oileus: 7 Apr, Peppersauce Canyon (Sta Cat's), Pima Co, 1ex
>                28 Apr, Guadalupe Canyon (Pelo's), Cochise Co, 2exx
>                9 Jun, Garden Canyon (Huachu's), Cochise Co, 1ex
> Chiomara asychis: 6 May, Elkhorn Canyon (Babo's), Pima Co, 1ex
>
> The records above are all migrant records. The spring in Mexico seems to have
> been good and now the bugs trickle in with every suitable wind from south.
> On the other hand only 2 observations of Phoebis sennae so far.
> The spring has been good for Arizona bugs too, my species observation list
> for 2001 has 135 species at the moment. The season is rather early, e.g.
> Amblyscirtes cassus is flying well already. The best days have been 6 May
> in Elkhorn Canyon 48 species, and 9 June in Garden Canyon, 50 species.
> Looks good.
>
>
> Best regards,          Markus Lindberg
>
 

From Jim Brock 5 June, 2001

Hi all,

Sorry for this tardy post. It's looking like another banner year for
butterflies in the White Mountains of Arizona! (See article in American
Butterflies Volume 7, # 4 )

I worked the Green's Peak road on 24 and the morning of 25 May then worked
the area 5 miles south of Alpine for about 3 hours. Many of the widespread
species were very common (Orange Sulphur, Checkered White, etc.) I think June
will be terrific in these mountains so if you're in the region stop and do
some butterfly watching.

NABA English names are used here
GP - Green's Peak road
A   -  Alpine from 4 to 15 miles south of the town

Pipevine Swallowtail                                                   A
Western Tiger Swallowtail                                            A
Baird's Swallowtail (Old World Swallowtail)                    GP
Checkered White                                                       A, GP
Mustard White                                                           A
Orange Sulphur                                                          A, GP
Dainty Sulphur                                                           A, GP
Mexican Yellow                                                         A
Gray Hairstreak                                                         A, GP
Thicket Hairstreak                                                     A
Western Pine Elfin                                                    A, GP
Spring Azure                                                             A, GP
Western Tailed Blue                                                  A
Melissa Blue                                                             A, GP
Acmon Blue                                                              A, GP
Reakirt's Blue                                                            A,
GP
Marine Blue                                                              A, GP
American Snout                                                        A
Weidemeyer's Admiral    (caterpillar only)                    A
California Sister                                                         A
Common Buckeye                                                     A, GP
Tropical Buckeye                                                       A, GP
Red Admiral                                                              A, GP
Painted Lady                                                             A, GP
American Lady                                                          A, GP
West Coast Lady                                                      A, GP
California Tortoiseshell                                               GP
Hoary Comma                                                         A, GP
Mylitta Crescent                                                       A, GP
Field Crescent                                                            GP
Silvery Checkerspot                                                   A
Fulvia Checkerspot                                                    GP
Arachne Checkerspot                                                GP
'Anicia' Variable Checkerspot                                      GP
Variegated Fritillary                                                   GP
Common Ringlet                                                       A, GP
Alberta Arctic                                                            GP
Afranius Duskywing                                                   GP
Persius Duskywing                                                    GP
Dreamy Duskywing                                                    A
Rocky Mountain Duskywing                                        A
Funereal Duskywing                                                   A
Common Checkered Skipper                                      A, GP
Mountain Checkered Skipper                                      A, GP
Silver-spotted Skipper                                                A
Cassus Roadside Skipper (way early for this one and it was not fresh!)   GP
Morrison's Skipper                                                    A, GP
Rhesus Skipper                                                        GP
Draco Skipper                                                           A
Tawny-edged Skipper                                                A

Jim Brock

From Karen Hillson 3 June, 2001

Doug called and wanted me to ask you to put on the website that the soapberry patch in Molino Canyon is about to bloom and should attract many Soapberry Hairstreaks.  This patch is "just upstream from the Molino Overlook, just to the right before the Molino Basin Turnoff."  He said that 99% of the soapberry plants have buds.

Thanks,

Karen

From Karen Hillson 14 May, 2001

For those of you who are interested--I have hordes of Texan Crescent caterpillars on the following plants (that by chance happened to be clustered together in a corner of my garden):  Dicliptera resupinata, Dicliptera
suberecta (native to Uruguay), and Justicia candicans (all family Acanthaceae).

By the way, a while back I had noted that a Texan Crescent was observed ovipositing on Justicia spicigera (Mexican Honeysuckle).  In the Winter 2000-2001 issue of Butterfly Garden News, Gary Noel Ross mentions Mexican Honeysuckle as a new record for Texan Crescent foodplants in Louisiana.  In addition, Justicia ovata is recorded by him as a foodplant apparently not listed anywhere else before.  I found on the Desert Landscaping CD-ROM that Justicia ovata is another name for Justicia candicans.  Ross also states that king's crown (Justicia suberecta) is a new record as well ("New Host Plant Records for Two Louisiana Butterflies", p. 11).  I wonder if king's crown (Justicia suberecta) and Dicliptera suberecta are the same plant.  They are both exotics.

Texan Crescent caterpillars sometimes move to a nearby plant or wall when they are not feeding, so butterfly gardeners should be cautious about pruning near the foodplant...I was cutting off some small branches of Tecoma stans yesterday because I thought they were obstructing the J. candicans.  Since I always examine stalks before I toss them out, I discovering four Texan Crescent caterpillars resting on the leaves of Tecoma stans!  Then I noticed five caterpillars on the wall, hiding under the leaves of Lady Bank's Rose!  Apparently they had taken refuge there for the night, because an hour later they were gone, presumably back on the hostplant.

--Karen
 

From Karen Hillson 12 May, 2001

Yesterday and today I witnessed in my garden two surprising phenomena.  Yesterday a Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) flitted about my Galvezia juncea (family Scrophulariaceae) laying eggs!  Later I looked and verified that
there were indeed pale green eggs on the leaves.  Today a Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) laid a batch of eggs on the underside of a tiny Galvezia juncea leaf.  I have not read that this plant is a host for either of these butterflies in any of the books that I have.

G. juncea is a weak-stemmed plant native to Baja California with red-orange, tubular flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds.  Maybe we should seek out this native for our butterfly gardens! (At least at lower elevations--it
is frost sensitive.)  It is not, unfortunately, often mentioned in books on desert gardening.

--Karen
 

From Hank Brodkin 13 May, 2001

On 11 May we co-led two field trips for the new Fiesta de las Aves in Bisbee that celebrated International Migration Day.  In the morning we went to Gold Gulch (G), a dry Chihuahuan Desert riparian area south of Bisbee and in the afternoon we covered Miller Canyon (M), a riparian area with a live creek in oak and oak juniper pinon woodland in the Huachuca mountains.

The following species were seen:
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus Philenor) GM
Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) M
Checkered White (Pontia protodice) GM
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) M
Southern Dogface (C. cesonia) GM
Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) GM
Sleepy Orange (E. nicippe) GM
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) GM
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) GM
Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda) G
Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exile) G
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) GM
Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola) GM
Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon) GM
Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo) G
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) G
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) G
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) GM
Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia) GM
Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) G
Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada) G
Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana) GM
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) M
Painted Lady (V. cardui) M
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) GM
Tropical Buckeye (J. genoveva)
Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis) M
California Sister (Adelpha bredowii) GM
Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) G
Empress Leilia (A. leilia) G
Nabakov's Satyr (Cyllopsis pyracmon) M
Queen (Danaus gilippus) GM
Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo) M
Funereal Duskywing (E. funeralis) M
Common/White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis/albescens) G
Desert Checkered-Skipper (P. philetas) G
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurentiacus) G
White-barred Skipper (Atrytonopsis pittacus) M
 

From Hank Brodkin 10 May, 2001

Butterflies have finally broken loose with the warmer weather reaching our location at 5,000 feet at the base of the Huachuca Mountains.
The following species were seen during an hour so while I was having breakfast on the porch:

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana), Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus siva), Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon), Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola), Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana), Varigated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus), Common/White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis/albescens), Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funerealis).
 

From Jim Brock 8 May, 2001

Greetings agian from the wilds of southeastern Arizona. Locality today is a classic butterfly area, Box Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Pima County, AZ.
Had the following in 2 hours:

Pipevine Swallowatil
Two-tailed Swallowtail  (unfortunately the new state butterfly)
Checkered White
Orange Sulphur
Southern Dogface
Sleepy Orange
Mexican Yellow
Dainty Sulphur
Gray Hairstreak
Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak
Juniper Hairstreak
Great Purple Hairstreak
Lupine Blue   (or the blue formerly known as Acmon)
Reakirt's Blue
Ceraunus Blue
Marine Blue
Western Pygmy Blue
Mormon Metalmark
American Snout
Gulf Fritillary
Variegated Fritillary  plus numerous caterpillars feeding in an around Linum puberulum
Bordered Patch
Tiny Checkerspot
Elada Checkerspot
Texan Crescent
American Lady
Painted Lady   ours are not carrying suitcases !
Common Buckeye
Tropical Buckeye
Red-spotted Admiral
California Sister
Empress Leilia
Hackberry Emperor
Queen  (should be the state butterfly - too many hanging chads I guess?
Acacia Skipper
Golden-headed Scallopwing
Arizona Powdered-Skipper
Funereal Duskywing
Common/White Checkered Skipper
Desert Checkered Skipper
Common Streaky-Skipper
Orange Skipperling
Sheep Skipper

Overall a good day for just two hours. The sweetbush was just starting to bloom and would have made bugging easier with a more profuse flowering. Another week or so it should be great.  Dominating the sweetbush were Mormon Metalmark, Elada Checkerspot and Arizona Powdered-Skipper. Also many butterflies coming to mud especially near a cattle tank in the upper portion of the closed canyon just below the grassland. In the grassland area the fleabane (a white aster type flower) was a good attractant and this is where we had most of the 'Siva' Juniper Hairstreak and the Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak.
At the "famous " bridge we had both Empress L. and Hackberry E. along with American Snout. The yellow blooming monkeyflower at the water's edge is worth searching for the beautiful Buckeye caterpillars. Meanwhile back up into the
grassland, the Variegated Fritillary caterpillars were foraging for more foodplant. They are so common it looks like they are having a tough time finding fresh leaves. The single plant we located had a caterpillar sitting on it and no leaves left. The larva might have been reduced to eating the stems and indeed a number of them were found roaming through the grasses.

Jim Brock
 

From Karen Hillson 7 May, 2001
 

My husband Jim and I walked through Sabino Canyon on Sunday (the paved road traveled by the tram) and it is also a butterfly "hot spot"!  Butterfly enthusiasts living in the Tucson area may want to check it out.  Catclaw and Wait-a-Minute Bushes are blooming profusely and attracting many species.  Highlights included:  over twenty Checkered Whites on a Catclaw; three (very fresh) Red Admirals on another Catclaw; Common Buckeyes and Tropical Buckeyes staking out territories on the
road (Mimulus guttatus is flowering along the river and some Common Buckeyes were ovipositing on it); lots of Empress Leilias; a Palmer's Metalmark (on Catclaw) and hordes of Elada Checkerspots at the end of the hike (3.7 miles from the visitor's center).

Last week I also spotted a Tropical Buckeye, a Spring Azure, and a Lupine Blue (formerly known as Acmon) in my backyard garden--I've seen these two butterflies often on field trips but never before in my yard.  On May 1, a Painted Lady was observed laying eggs on Salvia Chamaedryoides (Blue Chihuahuan Sage) and Helianthus Maximiliana (Maximilian Sunflower).

Species seen in Sabino Canyon on 5/5/0l:

Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
White/Common Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus albescens/communis)
Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Tropical Buckeye (Junonia genoveva)
Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana)
Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada)
Palmer's Metalmark (Apodemia palmerii)
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
Spring Azure (Celestrina ladon)
Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia)
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiacus)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
 

--Karen

From Jim Brock 6 May, 2001

Had another great butterfly day in southeastern Arizona.

Location: Atascosa Mountains, Santa Cruz County, Ruby Road from Pena Blanca Lake to 5 miles west of Pena Blanca Lake. Main attractant was flowering Beebush (Aloysia gratissima). It was sensational with 52 species reported!!  (This same stretch of road on the same day in 1999 would have yielded under 10 species!)

The list:

Pipevine Swallowtail
Two-tailed Swallowtail
Checkered White > 100
Orange Sulphur
Southern Dogface
Mimosa Yellow
Mexican Yellow > 50
Sleepy Orange
Dainty Sulphur
Gray Hairstreak
Leda Ministreak
Silver-banded Hairstreak
Juniper Hairstreak
Red-lined  Scrub-Hairstreak  A great find and possibly the 5th record for AZ!
Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak
Acmon/Lupine Blue
Reakirt's Blue
Ceraunus Blue
Marine Blue
Western Pygmy-Blue
Mormon Metalmark  > 40
Fatal Metalmark
American Snout
Gulf Fritillary
Variegated Fritillary
Theona Checkerspot
Bordered Patch
Tiny Checkerspot
Elada Checkerspot
Texan Crescent
American Lady
Painted Lady
Common Buckeye
Tropical Buckeye
Red-spotted Purple
Viceroy
California Sister
Queen
Arizona Skipper
Desert Cloudywing
Acacia Skipper
Golden-headed Scallopwing
Arizona Powdered-Skipper
Funereal Duskywing
Common/White Checkered Skipper
Desert Checkered Skipper
Common Streaky-Skipper
Many-spotted Skipperling  (1 male)  the find of the day! This is an August flier!!!
Orange Skipperling
Fiery Skipper
White-barred Skipper
Sheep Skipper

Jim Brock
 

From Jim Brock 28 April, 2001

The great butterflying spring continues here in southeastern Arizona.
Yesterday in the McCleary Canyon area north end of the Santa Rita Mountains,
Pima Co. we had the following:

Pipevine Swallowtail
Two-tailed Swallowtail
Checkered White
Orange Sulphur
Southern Dogface
Sleepy Orange
Mexican Yellow
Dainty Sulphur
Great Purple Hairstreak
Gray Hairstreak
'Siva' Juniper Hairstreak
Spring Azure
Reakirt's Blue
Marine Blue
Lupine Blue (formerly known as Acmon)
Variegated Fritillary
American Snout
Theona Checkerspot
Bordered Patch
Tiny Checkerspot
Elada Checkerspot
Texan Crescent
Painted Lady
American Lady
Red Admiral
Tropical Buckeye  > 50
Tropical Leafwing
Red-spotted Purple
Nabokov's Satyr
Acacia Skipper
Golden-headed Scallopwing
Mournful Duskywing
White/Common Checkered-Skipper
Desert Checkered-Skipper
Orange Skipperling
White-barred Skipper  a few still very fresh
Sheep Skipper
 
 

From Jim Brock - 20 April, 2001

Today was a marvelous day for butterflies in Huachuca Canyon, Huachuca Mts.,
southeastern Arizona.

Saw the following:

Two-tailed Swallowtail
Checkered White
Orange Sulphur
Southern Dogface
Mexican Yellow
Sleepy Orange
Dainty Sulphur
Spring Azure
Lupine Blue
Brown Elfin
Arizona Hairstreak
Juniper Hairstreak
Gray Hairstreak
Zela Metalmark   more than 50
Variegated Fritillary
Mylitta Crescent
Texan Crescent
Bordered Patch       More than 10
Black Checkerspot   only one female but we'll take it!
Painted Lady
American Lady
Tropical Buckeye
Red-spotted Admiral (Purple)
Short-tailed Skipper            about 10 or so
Funereal Duskywing
Mournful Duskywing             more than 20
Sleepy Duskywing
Checkered Skipper
Tropical Checkered Skipper  - a pleasant surprise, not many records for the
Huachuca's
 
 

From Hank and Priscilla Brodkin 4/18/01

Yesterday afternoon we found the following species on the Catalina Highway from the first vista turnout to Molino Basin campground.  The area is beautiful right now and full of flowers.  In addition to these species Doug Mullins reported seeing a nice flight of Violet-clouded Skipper (Lerodea arabus) near one of the lower turnouts.

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudatus), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Southern Dogface (C. cessonia), Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicanum), Sleepy Orange (E. nicippe), Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole), Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola), Spring Azure (Celestrina ladon), Variagated Fritillary (Euptoieta hegesia), Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas), Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada), American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), West Coast Lady (V. annabella), Red Admiral (V. atalanta), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Tropical Buckeye (Junonia genoveva), Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tritis), White/Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens/communis), Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus), Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiacus), and White-barred Skipper (Atrytonopsis pittacus).

From Bill in Tucson 4/3/01

I decided to go down to the Santa Rita mountains and give Box Canyon a look-see
for the odd skipper.  As I drove down, the wind had already picked up and the
sky started to look a little too dark for butterflies.  Not to mention the temp
was only in the upper 60s at this point.  High hopes I didnt have.  Even as I
approached the wash I spied my first skipper.  It turned out to be a pretty
fair day.  The biggest surprise as I moved down the wash was a beautiful, mint
condition, green, Chevy S-10 pick-up, nose down in the sand.  Gee, I better
check for survivors.  Nope, no one home, just some clothes and other odds and
ends.  I figured I would report it on my way out.  When I returned there were
three trucks including a tow-truck attempting to get somewhere close to this
thing.  How it got there I dont know.  As it turns out, it was a truck full of
illegal aliens fleeing the Border Patrol and took a wrong turn.  A REAL wrong
turn.  Ya just never know what your going to see.  Listed below are the species
I saw in a 1 mile stretch.
Junonia coenia--Buckeye
Junonia coenia nigrosuffusa--Black Buckeye
Vanessa atlanta--Red Admiral
Vanessa virginiensis--American Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui--Painted Lady
Dymasia chara--Dymas checkerspot
Texola elada--Elada Checkerspot
Anthanassa texana--Texan Crescent
Chlosyne lacinia--Bordered Patch
Phyllis Battenor, I really like her--Pipevine Swallowtail
Pterourus multicaudatus--Two-Tailed Tiger Swallowtail
Anthocharis sara--Sara Orange-Tip
Nathalis iole--Dainty Sulpher
Colias eurutheme--Alfalfa Butterfly
Pontia protodice--Checkered White
Eurema mexicananum--Mexican Sulpher
Strymon melinus--Gray Hairstreak
Mitovra siva--Siva Hairstreak
Emesis ares--Ares Metalmark
Leptotes marina--Marina Blue
Celestrina argiolus cinera--Common Blue

I'm even going to try and list the skippers, so here goes-

Copaeodes aurantiacus
Celotes nessus
Staphylus ceos
Tristis tatius
Systasea zampa
Pyrgius albesens
Pyrgus philetas
 Yea, I guess that didnt hurt as bad as I thought it would.  Good hunting all,
 Bill in Tucson.
 
 

From Hank Brodkin 3/27/01

Today I spent the hours from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Colassal Cave Mountain Park in eastern Pima County.
The are was lush and green with many flowers, the temperature in the low 70's.  The folllowing species were seen:

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata), Checkered White (Pontia protodice) many, Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe), Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) many, American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) many, Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas)many, Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana) many, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia), Common/White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis/albescens) many.

From Jim Brock - 3/24/01

Yesterday from 2:30 - 3:30 PM, milepost 2, Mt Lemmon Highway, Santa Catalina
Mountains, Pima County, Arizona, the following were observed:

Pipevine Swallowtail          (B. philenor)
Two-tailed Swallowtail        (P. multicaudata)
Sara Orangetip                 (A. sara)  2nd brood phenotype
Desert Orangetip               (A. cethura pima) caterpillars only on
Descurania pinnata
Checkered White               (P. protodice)
Orange Sulphur                  (C. eurytheme)
Mexican Yellow                 (E. mexicana)
Sleepy Orange                  ( E. nicippe)
Southern Dogface               (C. cesonia)
Dainty Sulphur                    (N. iole)
Spring Azure                      (C. ladon)
Reakirt's Blue                     (H. isola)
Marine Blue                        (L. marina)
Western Pygmy Blue          (B. exile)
Fatal Metalmark                  (C. nemesis)
Painted Lady                      ( V. cardui)
Red Admiral                       ( V. atalanta)
Texan Crescent                   (A. texana)
Tiny Checkerspot                (D. dymas)
Elada Checkerspot              (T. elada) larvae only on Anisicanthus thurberi
Common Buckeye               (J. coenia)
Tropical Buckeye                 (J. genoveva nigrosuffusa)
Gulf Fritillary                        (A. vanillae)
Empress Leilia                    (A. leilia)
American Snout                   (L. carinenta)
Golden-headed Scallopwing   (S. ceos)
Funereal Duskywing              (E. funeralis)
Checkered Skipper                (P. albescens)
AZ Powdered Skipper           (S. zampa)
Common Streaky Skipper      (C. nessus)
Erichson's White Skipper       (H. domicella)
Orange Skipperling                (C. aurantiacus)
Violet-clouded Skipper           (L. arabus)

It was busy! Dozens of butterflies in sight at all times. It (the foothills
of the Catalina's) does not get any better than this!
 
 

From Elaine Halbedel, Kitt Peak, 3/22/01

The following is my rather fledgling list of butterflies that Ihave recorded on Kitt Peak. I should mention that I am very much a novice at this craft and so have only included those for which I have firm identifications (i.e., from photographs that I have taken), except when the species was unambiguous! There are most certainly more species than I have listed here. The life zones include all those within the altitudinal range of 3000 (saguaro, palo verde, mesquite) to 7000 feet (oaks, Mexican pinyon, manzanita). Kitt Peak incorporates some interesting microclimes in the side canyons, as well as a large pond and several catchment basins, with running water at some times of year in the canyons.

        Adelpha bredowii eulalia        Arizona Sister
        Agathymus aryxna                Aryxna Giant Skipper
        Agraulis vanillae               Gulf Fritillary
        Anthanassa texana               Texan Crescent
        Anthocharis sara                Sara Orangetip
        Apodemia mormo                  Mormon Metalmark
        Apodemia mormo v. mejicana      Mormon Metalmark
        Arytonopsis aenus               Aenus Skipper
        Atryonopsis deva                Deva Skipper
        Atryonopsis pittacus            Pittacus Skipper
        Atryonopsis prenda              Prenda Roadside Skipper
        Autochton cellus                Golden-banded Skipper
        Battus philenor                 Pipevine Swallowtail
        Brephidium exile                Western Pygmy-Blue
        Calephelis arizonensis          Arizona Metalmark
        Celastrina argiolus             Spring Azure
        Chlosyne lacinia                Lacinia Checkerspot
        Chlosyne lacinia v. adjutrix    "       "
        Chlosyne lacinia v. crocale     "       "
        Chlosyne lacinia v. rufescens   "       "
        Codatactus arizonensis          Arizona Skipper
        Colias cesonia                  Southern Dogface
        Colias eurytheme                Orange Sulfur
        Colias philodice v. eriphyle    Clouded Sulfur
        Danaus gilippus                 Queen
        Danaus plexippus                Monarch
        Dymasia dymas                   Tiny Checkerspot
        Emesis ares                     Chiricahua Metalmark
        Epargyreus clarus               Silver-spotted Skipper
        Erynnis funeralis               Funereal Duskywing
        Erynnis tristis                 Mournful Duskywing
        Erynnis tristis v. tatius       Tristis Duskywing
        Erynnis tristis v. tristis      Tristis Duskywing
        Eupackardia calleta             Calleta Silkmoth
        Euptoieta claudia               Variegated Fritillary
        Eurema mexicanum                Mexican Sulfur
        Eurema nicippe                  Nicippe Sulfur
        Everes comyntas                 Eastern Tailed Blue
        Glaucopsyche lygdamus           Silvery Blue
        Hemiargus isola                 Reakirt's Blue
        Hyles lineata                   White-line Sphinx Moth
        Leptotes marina                 Marine Blue
        Lerema accius                   Clouded Skipper
        Libytheana bachmanii            American Snout
        Limenitis arthemis v. arizonensis       Red-spotted Purple
        Limenitis weidemeyerii          Western Admiral
        Megisto rubricata               Red Satyr
        Megisto rubricata v. cheneyorum         Red Satyr
        Ministrymon leda                Leda Ministreak
        Nathalis iole                   Dainty Sulfur
        Nymphalis antiopa               Mourning Cloak
        Papilio cresphontes             Giant Swallowtail
        Papilio multicaudata            Two-tailed Swallowtail
        Papilio polyxenes               Black Swallowtail
        Papilio rutulus                 Tiger Swallowtail
        Phoebis sennae                  Cloudless Sulfur
        Pieris protodice                Checkered White
        Pieris rapae                    Cabbage White
        Poanes taxiles                  Taxiles Skipper
        Polydryas arachne               Arachne Checkerspot
        Pyrgus communis                 Common Checkered Skipper
        Pyrrhopyge araxes               Dull Firetip
        Staphylus ceos                  Golden-headed Scallop
        Strymon melinus                 Gray Hairstreak
        Systasea zampa                  Arizona Powdered Skipper
        Texola elada v. perse           Elada Checkerspot
        Thorybes pylades                Northern Cloudywing
        Vanessa atalanta                Red Admiral
        Vanessa cardui                  Painted Lady
        Vanessa virginiensis            American Lady

That's my list! I have the data on where on the mountain they were seen andphotographed and the dates, but nothing about food sources, plants, etc. I am still trying to learn what is important to record.

        Elaine Halbedel

        HC02 Box 7520
        Sells, AZ  85634-7520
        520/318-8614
        halbedel@noao.edu

From Cheri Melton  3/19/01

Chris and I hiked Huachuca Canyon on Saturday.  It was 11am when we arrived and a bit windy and cold but very beautiful.  We saw Painted Lady, a very fresh Two-tailed Swallowtail, Checkered Whites, Orange Sulphur, Dainty
Sulphurs, Mexican Yellow, and a beautiful fresh skipper (looked like a fiery skipper?)  We also observed and took pictures of Spring Azures laying eggs on Ceanothus flower buds.
Blooming plants: one verbena, three dandelions and the Manzanita's were just starting their bloom period. Many plants are coming up and one area is going to be covered in Columbines.
I drove to Tombstone on Sunday and there were so many Sulphurs crossing the street it was unbelievable.  Many appeared to be Cabbage Whites - there is certainly enough mustard (London Rocket) out there for them to lay eggs on !

Cheri

From Bill in Tucson  March 13, 2001

Hey folks, one more report from Tucson.  Yesterday I hiked Pima Canyon
Trailhead on the northwest side of Tucson.  Temps were in the upper 60s, slight
breeze with a few clouds in the distance.  It couldn't have been nicer for
hiking, though the temps were marginal for a real show.  The species seen are
listed  below.

Eurema mexicana--Mexican Sulpher
Eurema nicippe--Sleepy Orange
Colias philodice--Clouded Sulpher
Zerene cesonia--Southern Dogface
Nathalis iole--Dainty Sulpher
Pontia sisymbrii--Spring White
Pontia protodice--Checkered White
Euchloe cethura--Desert Orange-Tip
Anthocharis sara--Sara Orange-Tip
Vanessa atalanta--Red Admiral
Vanessa annabella--West Coast Lady
Phyciodes texana--Texan Crescent
Texola elada--Elada Checkerspot
Hemiargus isola--Reakirts Blue
Celastrina ladon--Spring Azure
Libytheana carinenta--Snout
Danaus gilippus--Queen

Species are up.  The Sara Orange-Tips were out by the dozens.  I noted 4 Desert
Orange-Tips, a high for me.  The Queen was an early surprise.  Thats it folks.
Looks like plenty of reports are comming in from all over so you Yankees wont
need any more reports from me.  Ya'll take care,  Bill
 
 

From "Bill" in Tucson on 20 February

I took a hike yesterday (19 Feb), up Fingerrock Trailhead.  The weather was 74 degrees, clear as a bell and a trace of a breeze.  Perfect.    Thefollowing is a list of species observed;
Sisymbrii White--Pieris sisymbrii---4 Specimens
Anthocharis pima--Desert Orange-tip---1
Anthocharis sara--Sara Orange-tip---20
Colias philodice--Clouded Sulpher---6
Colias zerene--Southern Dogface---5
Libytheana bachmanii--Snout---25
Agraulis vanillae--Gulf Fritillary---1
Vanessa atalanta--Red Admiral---1
Asterocampa leilia--Empress leilia---10
Leptotes marina--Marina Blue---5
Eurema mexicanum--Mexican Sulpher---3
Systasea pulverulenta--Arizona Powdered Skipper---25
Copaeodes minimus--Minimus Skipperling
Unidentified Duskywing---3

All in all, pretty good.  I did manage to catch one of the Sisymbrii Whites in
my straw hat.  You do what ya gotta do.  See ya,  Bill
 

From Hank Brodkin 21, January 2001
Helped Bob Stewart and Richard Felger lead a nature tour to Alamos 1/8 to 1/15.  We saw a few interesting species among the commoner bugs.
Here is a list:
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Great Southern White (Ascia monuste), Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia), Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe), Tailed Orange (E. proterpia), Boisduval's Yellow (E. boisduvaliana), Little Yellow (E. lisa), Mexican Yellow (E. mexicana), Mimosa Yellow (E. nise), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Large Orange Sulphur (P. agarrithe), Lyside Sulphur (Kricognia lyside), (Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole), Creamy Stripestreak (Arawacus jada), Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus), Marine Blue (Leptotes marina), Curve-winged Metalmark (Emesis emesia), Maria Metalmark (Lasaia maria), Karwinski's Beauty (Smyrna karwinskii), Blackened Bluewing (Myscelia cyanthe), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Tropical Buckeye (J. nigrosuffusa), Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas), Gray Cracker (Hamadryas februa), Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Tropical Leafwing (Anaea aidea), Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae), Common Mestra (Mestra amymone), Elf (Microtia elva), Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia), Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana), White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae), Similis Satyr (Vareuptychia similis), American Snout (Libytheana carinenta), Queen (Danaus plexippus), Soldier (D. eresimus),
Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes), Brown Longtail (U. procne), Long-tailed Skipper (U. proteus), White-striped Skipper (Chioides catillus, Tropical Checkered-Skiper (Pyrgus oileus), Texas Powdered-Skipper (Systasea pulverulenta), Laviana White-Skipper Heliopetes laviana), Brown-banded Skipper (Timochares ruptifasciatus),
Emorsa Skipper (Antigonus emorsa), Georgina Skipper (Chiomara georgina), Tropical Least Skiper (Ancyloxypha arena), Clouded Skippeer (Lerema accius), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Shiva Skipper (Synapte
shiva)

Forgive me if some of the names are archaic or mis-spelled.  In a hurry!
Cheers!

From Jim Brock 11/30

Today on the Mt. Lemmon highway north of Tucson about milepost 4 I saw the
following:

American Snout
Mexican Yellow
Tiny Checkerspot
Empress Leilea
Arizona Powdered Skipper  (one fresh adult and all stages of caterpillars
incl. eggs)
Southern Dogface
Texan Crescent  ( a pair of fresh individuals)

The day is warm and sunny and the observation time was for about 30 minutes>

Jim P. Brock
 
 

From Hank Brodkin 10/7

Today I went with Rich Bailowitz on Carl Olson's U of A Entomology Lab field trip to California Gulch.  We covered the last mile or so of the Gulch to the Mexican border fence.  The Gulch was quite dry except for the area we covered which has permanent water.  Bidens was blooming -but not nearly as prolificly as in a normal year.
We saw 41 species including Dorantes Longtail Urbanus dorantes, White-patched Skipper Chiomara asychii, Erichson's White-Skipper Heliopetes domicella, and Southern Skipperling Copaeodes minimus.

Here is the complete list:
Checkered White Pontia protodice, Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme, Southern Dogface C. cesonia, Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicanum, Tailed Orange E. proterpia, Sleepy Orange E. nicippe, Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole, Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus, Leda Ministreak Ministrymon leda, Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile, Reakirt's Blue Hemiargus isola, Ceraunus Blue H. ceraunus, Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemisis, Arizona Metalmark C. arizonensis, Mormon Metalmark Apodemia mormo, Palmer's Metalmark A. palmeri, American Snout Libytheana carinenta, Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia, California Sister Adelpha bredowii, Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis,  Viceroy A. archippus, Painted Lady Vanessa cardui, Tropical Buckeye Junonia nigrosuffusa, Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia,  Texan Crescent Anthanassa texana, Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas, Elada Checkerspot Texola elada,  Varigated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia, Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae, Queen Danaus gilippus, Dorantes Longtail Urbanus dorantes, Arizona Powdered-Skipper Systasea zampa, White-patched Skipper Chiomara asychii, Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis, Erichson's White-Skipper Helopetes domicella, Desert Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus philetas, White Common Checkered-Skipper P. albescens, Orange Skipperling Copaedesaurantiacus, Southern Skipperling C. minimus, Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus, and Eufala Skipper Lerodea eufala.

From Doug Mullins 10/3

A Barred Yellow Eurema daira and an Elf  Microtia elva were seen in Garden Canyon recently by Marcus Lindstrom.

And from Jim Brock 10/4

Add to that A Brazilian Skipper and a Tropical Leafwing last Saturday.
 

From Rick Bowers 9/29

Had an interesting butterfly yesterday - 28 Sept. - Brazilian Skipper at
Tohono Chul greenhouse.  I was buying a few more plants for the yard when
this big guy came flying in, drank from a couple flowers, and off he went!
Kind of fun.
 

From Rich Bailowitz 9/8:

I guess questionmarks are having a good late season, as they did last year.
Sandy and I had one at Arivaca Lake last weekend.  Just about as far west as
that bug has ever been seen.  (There's one record from Arivaca Creek which
is about 10 miles further west.)  Finding nectar during the fall may be the
key to finding interesting things.  That rabbitbrush stand near the south
end of the Huachucas may prove to be very rewarding.

From Hank & Priscilla Brodkin 8/20:

On 18 and 19 August we led field trips into Garden Canyon on FT.
Huachuca for the Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival in Sierra
Vista.  If I counted right we saw 45 species.  Thistle, Basketflower,
and other composites were blooming in profusion.  Highlights were the
number of indiviuals of four speceis of swallowtail, one Arizona
Skipper, nice and fresh, the first Caicus Skipper we have seen this
year, and two Brazilian Skippers.  Here is the list:

Pipevine Swallowtail (B. philenor), Black Swallowtail (P. polyxenes),
Giant Swallowtail (P. cresphontes), Two-tailed Swallowtail (P.
multicaudata), Checkered White (P. protodice), Orange Sulphur (C.
eurytheme), Southern Dogface (C. cesonia), Cloudless Sulphur (P.
sennae), Mexican Yellow (E. mexicana), Tailed Orange (E. proterpia),
Sleepy Orange (E. nicippe), Dainty Sulphur (N. iole), Gray Hairstreak
(S. melinus), Leda Ministreak (M. leda), Marine Blue (L. marina),
Ceraunus Blue (H. ceraunus), Reakirt's Blue (H. isola), Spring Azure (C.
ladon), Fatal Metalmark (C. nemisis), Zela Metalmark (E. zela), Ares
Metalmark (E. ares), Palmer's Metalmark (A. palmeri), Variegated
Fritillary (E. claudia), Bordered Patch (C. lacinia), Elada Checkerspot
(T. elada), American Lady (V. virginiensis), Painted Lady (V. cardui),
Red-spotted Purple (L. arthemis), California Sister (A. bredowii),
Nabakov's Satyr (C. pyrcamon), Monarch (D. plexippus), Queen (D.
gilippus), Dull Firetip (P. araxes), Arizona Skipper (C. arizonensis),
Acacia Skipper (C. hippalus), Caicus Skipper (C. caicus), Mournful
Duskywing (E. tristis), Funereal Duskywing (E. funeralis), Common
Checkered Skipper complex (P. communis), Desert Checkered Skipper (P.
philetas), Common Sootywing (P. catullus), Taxiles Skipper (P. taxiles),
Bronze Roadeside-Skipper (A. aenus), and Brazilian Skipper (C. ethlius).
 
 

From Hank and Priscilla Brodkin 8/8

Sunday we visited Garden canyon on Fort Huachuca with Fred Heath andHolly Heath from California.  Once we were past the upper picnic area the canyon was as lush and flower filled and butterfly filled as we have ever seen it.

Extraordinary for us were 3 Brazilian Skippers (C.ethlius).  Also noteable were the extraordinary number of swallowtails - especially Giant (P. Cresphontes) and Black (P. polyxenes) which were in numbers that none of us had experienced before.

The folks who signed up to go on our South West Wings Festival Field Trips on August 18 and 19 are in for a real treat!

Collectors remember - you will need a permit from the Fort Huachuca Wildlife Office applied for in writing in advance.  For details call (520)533-7084.  The area is now patrolled by wildlife officers.
.
Pipevine Swallowtail (B. philenor)
Black Swallowtail (P. polyxenes)
Giant Swallowtail (P. cresphontes)
Two-tailed Swallowtail (P. multicaudatus)
Checkered White (P. protodice)
Orange Sulphur (C. eurytheme)
Southern Dogface (C. cesonia)
Cloudless Sulphur (P. sennae)
Mexican Yellow (E. mexicanum)
Tailed Orange (E. proterpia)
Sleepy Orange (E. nicippe)
Dainty Sulphur (N. iole)
Gray Hairstreak (S. melinus)
Leda Ministreak (M. leda)
Marine Blue (L. marina)
Ceraunus Blue (H. ceraunus)
Spring Azure (C. argiolus)
Zela Metalmark (E. zela)
Ares Metalmark (E. ares)
Palmer's Metalmark (A. palmerii)
American Snout (L. carinenta)
Varigated Fritillary (E. claudia)
Theona Checkerspot (T. theona)
Bordered Patch (C. lacinia)
Tiny Checkerspot (D. dymas)
Mylitta Crescent (P. mylitta)
Mourning Cloak (N. antiopa)
Painted Lady (V cardui)
Red-spotted Purple (L. arthemis)
Arizona Sister (A. bredowii)
Nabakov's Satyr (C. pyracmon)
Monarch (D. plexippus)
Queen (D. gilippus)
Dull Firetip (P. araxes)
Golden-banded Skipper (A. cellus)
Drusius Cloudywing (T. drusius)
Acacia Skipper (C. hippalus)
Mournful Duskywing (E. tristis)
Funeral Duskywing (E. funeralis)
Common Sootywing (P. catullus)
Orange Skipperling (C. aurantiacus)
Taxiles Skipper (P. taxiles)
Moon-marked Skipper (A. luna)
Sheep Skipper (A. edwardsi)
Large Roadside-Skipper (A. exoteria)
Cassus Roadsied-Skipper (A. cassus)
Bronze Roadside-Skipper (A. aenus)
Brazilian Skipper (C. ethlius)

From Jim Brock 7/26

Had an incredible sight today over in Red Rock Canyon SE of Patagonia. Over
1,000 Piruna cingo on the Lithrium! Thought you'd be interested. 45 other
species including the first Tropical Buckeye of the year for me in the lower
Harshaw drainage.

Jim

From Hank Brodkin -  7/20

We live near the end of Carr Canyon south of Sierra Vista, Arizona.  We
put in a small - app. 10' in diameter - circular garden with about a
dozen plants chosen for their attractiveness to butterflies as nectar
sources (3 of our 4 acres are completely wild and full of larval food
plants) and chosen for their unattractiveness to the Coue's White-tailed
Deer who stop by to visit a few times every day.

We noticed there seemed to be a lot of butterflies in this tiny garden -
so today I checked it about four times and the day's total number of
species was 30:
Pipevine Swallowtail (B. philenor), Southern Dogface (C. cesonia),
Cloudless Sulphur (P. sennae), Mexican Yellow (E. mexicanum), Tailed
Orange (E. proterpia), Sleepy Orange (E. nicippe), Dainty Sulphur (N.
iole), Gray Hairstreak (S. melinus), Leda Ministreak (M. leda), Marine
Blue (L. marina), Ceraunus Blue (H. ceraunus), Zela Metalmark (E. zela),
American Snout (L. carinenta), Variegated Fritillary (E. claudia),
Bordered Patch (C. lacinia), American Lady (V. virginiensis), Painted
Lady (V. cardui), Monarch (D. plexippus)- one only - the first one seen
this year - they are rare here, Queen (D. gilippus), Dorantes Longtail
(U. dorantes), Northern Cloudywing (T. pylades), Drusius Cloudywing (T.
drusius), Acacia Skipper (C. hippalus), Golden-headed Scallopwing (S.
ceos), Mournful Duskywing (E. tristis), Orange Skipperling (C.
aurantiacus), Moon-marked Skipper (A. lunus) - yard butterfly #92, Large
Roadside-Skipper (A. exoteria), Bronze Roadside-Skipper (A. aenus), and
Slatey Roadside-Skipper (A. nereus).
 
 

From Rich Bailowitz - 7/15

Greetings.  Just a quick note to let you know that the early season continues.  Today, Sandy Upson and I had both lyside [Lyside Sulpher] and proterpia [Tailed Orange] over at San Bernadino.  The proterpia is an earliest ever by 4 days.  There's a 1 July record for lyside from near Morenci, of all places.

From Hank Brodkin - 7/13

An early record for SE AZ of Dorantes Longtail Urbanus dorantes was in Carr Canyon today.

From Doug Danforth - 7/9

Doug and Rich Bailowitz found six species of Roadside-Skipper at Patagonia today including Elissa and also found several Mysie Skipper Cogia mysie there.

From Jim Brock on 7/7

Was in Molino Basin today. The activity was great ! I can't believe how fast
the butterflies came on. Good numbers of Acacia Skippers, Desert Cloudywings,
Streaky Skippers ,Theona C.S. , Caicus Skippers, Orange Skipperlings,
Bordered Patches, and other things such as Red Satyr, Fulvia C.S.,Mexican
Sulphur, 2-tailed Swallowtail, Pipevine S. T. , Tiny C.S., Elada C.S., plus
aquatics by the ying yang!

Normally one shouldn't see response like this for 3 to 4 weeks after the
onset of the rains. However it was like this there last Tuesday also, barely
two weeks after the first rains.

From Rob and Eve Gill on 6/21/00

We just got back from a
5 day birding trip in the Chiris.  Awfully hot but we saw Pine Satyrs and Orange-edged Roadside
Skippers were abundant around the remnants of the iris.  And Red Satyrs all over the place.
Like we'd never seen before.

From Jim Brock on 6/20/00 Re: his trip to the White Mountains the previous week:
 

Draco is normally abundant in the White's. This year is no exception. There
were hundreds!
My list from memory:

Pipevine Swallowtail
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Mustard White
Orange Sulphur
Queen Alexandra's Sulphur
Sleepy Orange
Cabbage White ? I think I saw these in Springerville in gardens but didn't
stop to make sure
Arctic Blue
Marine Blue
Greenish Blue
Boisduval's Blue
Spring Azure
Reakirt's Blue
Gray Hairstreak
Leda Ministreak
Juniper Hairstreak
'Canyon' Bramble HS
Ceraunus Blue
Variegated Fritillary
Atlantis Fritillary
Silvery Checkerspot
Fulvia Checkerspot
Mylitta Crescent
Field Crescent
Sister
Weidemeyer's Admiral
Common Ringlet
Small Woodnymph
Red Satyr
Canyonland Satyr
American Lady
Painted Lady
Ridings' Satyr
Silverspotted Skipper
Northern Cloudywing
Mexican Cloudywing
Rocky Mountain Duskywing
Persius Duskywing
Russet Skipperling
Garita Skipperling
Nevada Skipper
Draco Skipper
Tawny-edged Skipper
Dun Skipper
Cassus Roadside Skipper
 Localities were mainly Hannigan Creek, 4.5 miles south of Alpine and 1 mile
west of Forest Road 117 (Green's Paek Rd.) on Hwy 260.

Add from New Mexico 1.5 to 4.5 miles E of Mogollon

Black Swallowtail
Nais Metalmark
Hoary Comma
Mourning Cloak
Nais Metalmark
Tialed Copper
Four-spotted Skipperling

Jim
 
 

From Hank and Priscilla Brodkin - 6/5:

On the afternoon of June 4 we walked  a section of the Clark Peak Trail on the ridge of the Huachuca Mountains in Arizona.  The elevation was between 7,000 and 7,500 feet.
Relatively few butterflies included:
Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata), Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) hundreds, 3 Leda Ministries (Ministrymon leda) - very fresh, Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades), and a few very fresh Orange-edged Roadside-Skippers (Amblyscirtes fimbriata).

From Jim Brock - 6/1

Forgot to tell you I had a Chiricahua White in Huachuca Canyon on May 11. It
was a male. Not much else was flying except Sisters.
 
 

From Hank and Priscilla Brodkin - 5/23

On May 22 we butterflied Garden Canyon and Barcus Ranch in the Huachucas
of Cochise County, Arizona, with Herb and Olga Clarke of Los Angeles.
We were there from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM.  The weather was partly cloudy
and hot.  New Mexican Locust and False Indigo seemed to be the chief
attractants.  Species seen:
Pipevine Swallowtail (B. philenor), Checkered White (P. protodice),
Southern Dogface (C. cesonia), Mexican Yellow (E. mexicanum), Sleepy
Orange (E. nicippe), Dainty Sulphur (N. iole), Great Purple Hairstreak
(A. halesus), Juniper Hairstreak (C. gryneus), Gray Hairstreak (S.
melinus), Marine Blue (L. marina), Ceraunus Blue (H. ceraunus),
Reakirt's Blue (H. isola), Spring Azure (C. argiolus), Bordered Patch
(C. lacinia), Texan Crescent (P. texana), Painted crescent (P. pictus)
at Barcus Ranch, Mourning Cloak (N. antiopa), American Lady (V.
virginiensis), Red-spotted Purple (L. arthemis), Arizona Sister (A.
bredowii), Tropical Leafwing (A. aidea) 2, Nabakov's Satyr (C. pyracom),
Canyonland Satyr (C. pertepida), Red Satyr (M. rubricata), Queen (D.
gilippus), Silver-spotted Skipper (E. clarus), Desert Cloudywing (A.
casica), Northern Cloudywing (T. pylades), Funereal Duskywing (E.
funeralis), Orange Skipperling (C. aurantiacus), Deva Skipper (A. deva),
Python Skipper (A. python).

From Jim Brock - 5/21

Had an unusually great day for butterflies in my backyard today. I am 1 mile
south of Sabino Canyon, at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains,
Tucson,AZ, Pima County.

The following were observed in my butterfly garden today,

Funeral Duskywing   E. funerealis
Arizona Powdered Skipper   S. zampa
Acacia Skipper  C. hippalus
Orange Skipperling  C. aurantiacus
Marine Blue   L. marina
Reakirt's Blue  H. isola
Ceraunus Blue  H. ceraunus
Gray hairstreak  S. melinus
Leda Ministreak  M. leda
Texan Crescent  A. texana
American Snout  L. carinenta
Queen   D. gilippus
Dainty Suphur  N. iole
Sleepy Orange  E. nicippe
Southern Dogface  C. cesonia
Large Orange Sulphur  P. agarithe  ( the surprise of the day)

16 species for a day in the yard is way above what one would expect in this
area in the middle of our dry season following one of the driest winters ever
recorded here. Last year (also a very dry winter) at this time I had about 6
species per day. On the 20th of May in 1998, following an exceptionally wet
winter I had 13 species.

One tends to not see Large Orange Suphurs until a few weeks after the onset
of the summer rains (late July or early August). However today a very fresh
looking male circled the center of the garden and then flew off.

Jim Brock
 
 

From Rich Bailowitz - 5/21
  I also led a field trip for Buenos Aires on the 20th and had
many of the species you mentioned.  Here's a quick list:  aurantiacus,
edwardsi, hippalus, philenor, nicippe, mexicanum, cesonia, iole, palmerii,
nemesis, arizonensis, melinus, halesus, marina, ceraunus, isola, carinenta,
leilia, celtis, dymas, gilippus, texana.  These were all in Brown Cyn,
Baboquivari Mtns.  Things looked terrible.  The few puddles were clogged
with marinas, both dead and alive.

Rich
 
 

From Bill Wheaton 5/19

Butterflies Seen By Doug Mullins

1.Pipevine Swallowtail. 2.Southern Dogface. 3.Sleepy Orange. 4.Mexican
Yellow. 5.Gray Hairstreak. 6.Ceraunus Blue. 7.Marine Blue. 8.Mormon
Metalmark. 9.Palmers Metalmark. 10.Texan Crescent. 11.Painted Lady.
12.Empress Leilia. 13.Red Satyr. 14.Desert Cloudywing
15.Northern Cloudywing. 16.Arizona Powdered Skipper. 17.Funerial Duskywing.
18.Mornful Duskywing. 19. Orange Skipperling. 20.Deva Skipper. 21.Cestus
Skipper. 22.Sheep Skipper. 23.Bronze Roadside Skipper. Larva seen, Theona
Checkerspot, Lerena incarnata(red and blue Arctiid moth.    These were all
along the Catalina highway. Deva was at Bear Canyon.  The rest were seen
from Molino Basin to one mile below Molino.      Bill Wheaton.

From Jim Brock, May 18

Just thought I'd let you know that I was in both Huachuca Canyon and Garden
ganyon last week. I could not find blooming Ceanothus but found the deva
swarming on New Mexico thistle not so much in the canyons but along the west
gate road. Had a male terlootii in Huachuca Canyon but no brush foots to
speak of except Sisters.

I checked a small cienega 13 miles south of Sonoita and found a few things
but of interest was a male Sunrise Skipper, maybe two. Haven't seen it in
there before which makes me think that they came in there last summer after
the rains.

 From Jim Brock, May 10:

For those into such things as chasing rare butterflies I post the
following:

On Sunday May 7th I observed good numbers of the Small Blue at Daylight
Pass in Death Valley, Inyo County, California. To see a Small Blue is always
exciting but to stumble across five males in a matter of five minutes is
lucky indeed! The foodplant is Punctered Bract(Oxytheca perfoliata) and it
was present and well branched. (It starts as basal leaves)  The tiny eggs
are deposited on both upper and under sides of the bracts. The 15 or so males
and one female sighted appeared in good condition so adults should be around
for another 10 days.

There is a pullout at the pass but no sign stating that you are there. The
road to the east (to Beatty, NV) immediately downgrades and passes a small,
inconspicuous wooden post on the north side of the highway designating the
state boundry. The site is very close to Nevada. I was in three different
gullies on the south side of the highway(opposite the turnout) and saw
adults immediately. There were also a few Pygmy Blues in the area.

5/6 Huachuca Mountains:  A good hatch of Deva Skippers Atrynopsis deva this month.

From Hank Brodkin on 5/3:
On 2 May we went up to Huachuca Canyon on Ft. Huachuca.  Ceonothus was just past prime bloom - but still plenty of fresh flowers and the usual suspects nectaring.

We saw the first Desert Cloudywing (Achilarus casica) of the season nectaring with Deva Skippers (Atrytonopsis deva) on thistle.

This afternoon (3 May) we had the first Python Skipper (Atrytonopsis python) of the season in our yard in Carr Canyon - yard bug number 90.

From Jim Brock on 4/26:
I was in Pima Canyon yesterday.it looks much dryer than Bear Canyon.
Looks like Marine Blue madness and little else. Empress leilea, Streaky
Skippers and Elada Checkerspots were also present.

From Rich Bailowitz on 4/23: (Referring to report of 4/22 Field Trip)
......The pictus [Painted Crescent] is a bit early for the Huachucas, as you mentioned.  Sandy and I were in Leslie Cyn on the 21st and had many of the same species including philenor [Pipevine Swallowtail], multicaudatus [Two-tailed Swallowtail] , melinus [Gray Hairstreak], marina [Marine Blue], carinenta [American Snout], astyanax [Red-spotted Purple], theona [Theona Checkerspot], zampa [Arizona Powdered-Skipper], ceos [Golden-headed Scallopwing], brizo [Dreamy Duskywing], tristis [Mournful Duskywing], funeralis [Funereal Duskywing], and pittacus [White-barred Skipper].
Jim said he had had a pima [Pima Orangetip] in his yard about 10 days ago.
Things are screwed up, season wise, and early and late dates may be prevalent. Keep
your eyes peeled...

From Stan Lilley on 4/22:
A Carus Skipper Polites carus was found and photographed in Guadelupe Canyon - and not much else was seen.

From Jim Brock on 4/7:
Butterflies observed at Molino Basin, Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima County, AZ

Wednesday  April 5, 2000.  11A.M. to 12:10 P.M.

Two-tailed Swallowtail                         P. multicaudatus........................2
Pipevine Swallowtail                           B. philenor.................................2
Sara Orangetip                                 A. sara......................................10-15
Spring White                                     P. sisymbrii................................1
Sleepy Orange                                  E. nicippe...................................1
Brown Elfin                                       C. augustinus.............................2
Great Purple Hairstreak                      A. halesus.................................2 females
Spring Azure                                     C.  ladon....................................3
Texan Crescent                                 P. texana...................................1
Painted Lady                                    V. cardui....................................1
Golden-headed Scallopwing                S. ceos......................................2
Streaky Skipper                                 C. nessus..................................5
Funeral Duskywing                             E. funerealis..............................1
Orange Skipperling                             C. aurantiacus...........................1
White-barred Skipper                         A. pitticus ................................2

Weather was sunny, 10 degrees warmer than normal and activity was slow
except for the marvelous flight of Sara Orangetips. They were going as well as
I've ever seen them in this locality.
 

From Hank Brodkin on 4/5:

I went to Garden Canyon this afternoon, 4/5/00.  While butterflies were
in small numbers there are some nectar sources and water.  Blooming
Ceanothus, Berberis, and Carpochaete seemed were attracted some bugs.
Species seen:

Pipevine Swallowtail (B. philenor)
Two-tailed Swallowtail P. multicaudata) only one
Orange Sulphur (C. eurytheme)
Gray Hairstreak (S. melinus) common
Juniper Hairstreak (C. g. siva) one
Great Purple Hairstreak (A. halesus)
Spring Azure (C. ladon)
Marine Blue (L. marina) common
Zela Metalmark (E. zela) common
Mylitta Crescent (P. mylitta) one
Satyr Comma (P. satyrus) one
Mourning Cloak (N. antiopa) one
Red-spotted Purple (L. a. astyanax)
Short-tailed Skipper (Z. dorus) one at Barcas Ranch - Lower Pond
Funereal Duskywing (E. funeralis) common
White-barred Skipper (A. pittacus)

There were also quite a few sphingid hawkmoths of the species Hemaris diffinis, the Snowberry Clearwing nectaring on the Carpochaete.

From Hank Brodkin on 3/14:
This morning, March 14, we had an Arizona Powdered-Skipper (Systasea
zampa) in our yard at the foot of Carr Canyon.  This may be an early sighting for the Huachucas.
While there have seen a few other species here over the past week or so -
Pipevine and Black Swallowtail, Southern Dogface, Orange Sulphur, Spring Azure, Gray and Great-Purple Hairstreak, Mournful and Funereal Duskywing, and White-barred Skipper  - most of these have been single individuals and sightings are few and far between.

From Steve Prchal at SASI - The first Sara's Orangetip of the season showed up at SASI on 2/7.

From: Hank Brodkin, January 12

Our yard at the foot of Carr Canyon  in Hereford was visited briefly around noon today by a fresh looking  Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus).  This is an early record.

From: Hank & Priscilla Brodkin, December 28

Butterflies were disappointedly few last week in Alamos, Sonora - just a few
species and in very small numbers compared to last year at the same
time.  We were entertaining and guiding birders, as well as doing the
Christmas Bird Count in Alamos, so we could not concentrate on
butterflies as much as we would have liked.
Species identified:

Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
Tailed Orange (Eurema proterpia)
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
Large Orange Sulphur (P. agarithe)
Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside)
Yellow-angled Sulphur (Anteos maerula)
Boisduaval's Yellow (Eurema boisduvaliana)
Mimosa yellow (E. nise)
Mexican Yellow (E. mexicana)
Blackened Bluewing (Myscelia cyananthe)
Tropical Buckeye (Junonia genoveva)
Common Buckeye (J. coenia)
Hamadryas sp.
Similis Satyr (Vareutyptychia similis)
American Snout (Libytheana bachmanii)
Queen (Danaus gilippus)
Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes)
Mottled Longtail (Typhedanus undulatus)
Zilpa Longtail (Chiodes zilpa)
Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis)
Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus oileus)
 
 

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