Sierra Trip

Fred Heath Fred.Heath at power-one.com
Sat Aug 22 18:16:14 EDT 1998


        Last weekend LANABA (the L.A. Chapter of NABA) had a field trip to 
     the Sonora Pass area which is just north of Yosemite N.P. in the 
     Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The flowers and butterfly 
     sighting seemed for the most part to be about 3 weeks later than more 
     normal seasons and there were still patches of snow at the higher 
     elevations. The following 47 species were found over the two day 
     weekend:
        W. Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus), Checkered White (Pontia 
     protodice), Cabbage White (P. rapae), Orange Sulphur (Colias 
     eurytheme). 
        Seven coppers including: Tailed (Lycaena arota), Great (L. 
     xanthodies), Edith's (L. editha), Gorgon (L. gorgon), Ruddy (L. 
     rubidus), Blue (L.heteronea), Lilac-bordered (L. nivalis).
        Three hairstreaks: Behr's (Satryrium behrii), California 
     (S.californica), Hedgerow (S. saepium)- One Hedgerow was seen briefly 
     mated (or at least coupled) with a Blue Copper. 
        Seven blues: W. Pygmy (Brephidium exile), Silvery (Glaucopsyche 
     lygdamas), Northern (Lycaeides idas), Melissa (L. melissa), Greenish 
     (Plebejus saepiolus), Boisduval's (P. icariodes), Arctic (Agriades 
     glandon). Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo).
        Six fritillaries: Great Spangled (Speyeria cybele), Nokomis (S. 
     nokomis), Zerene (S. zerene), Great Basin (S. egleis)- including a  
     mated pair: male with silvered spots, female without, Hydaspe (S. 
     hydaspe), Pacific (Bolaria epithore).
        Northern Checkerspot (Chlosyne palla), three crescents: California 
     (Phyciodes orseis), Mylitta (P. mylitta), Field (P. campestris).
        California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica), Milbert's 
     Tortoiseshell (N. milberti), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), West Coast 
     Lady (V. annabella), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Lorquin's 
     Admiral (Limenitis lorquini), Small Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis cetus), 
     Monarch (Danaus plexippus).
        Seven skippers: Mexican Cloudywing (Thorybes mexicana), Persius 
     Duskywing (Erynnis persius), Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus 
     communis), Two-banded Checkered-Skipper (P. ruralis), Common Branded 
     (Hesperia comma), Woodland (Ochlodes sylvanoides), Sonoran (Polites 
     sonora).
        In addition, Sheep Moth and Riding's Forester were also noted. 
     Sooty Hairstreak (Satyrium fulginosum), Lustrous Copper (Lycaena 
     cupreus), and Common Roadside Skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis) were found 
     group members just before and/or just after the weekend.  


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