Desert Leps

[Heath, Fred]

        During an Audubon trip this past weekend to Anza-Borrego Desert 
     State Park (San Diego County, California), although the focus was on 
     birds, we were actively searching for butterflies. With only one day 
     of sunshine, we found 12 species. The only new one from the previous 
     week's NABA outing to the same spot was the Sagebrush Checkerspot 
     (Chlosyne acastus neumoegeni). 
        Even though temperatures were warm (75 degrees F), except for the 
     Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), which was abundant, the numbers of 
     butterflies was extremely low. In fact there was a distinct lack of 
     pollinators of any kind except hummingbirds on the tubular flowered 
     Chuparosa. With all the flowering activity (some have called this 
     year's El Nino driven wildflower bonanza the best in a century... 
     although I personally can't quite remember that far back), it would 
     seem to be a waste of time (although the 10,000 people and I who were 
     in the park appreciate the spectacular display), since without 
     pollinators they won't be leaving any seeds. My guess is that the 
     rains have been a little too much for the insects. Any other ideas out 
     there?
        Aside from the Painted Lady, there was one other abundant lep- the 
     White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata). The caterpillars for this 
     moth were everywhere, eating everything- especially the flowers and 
     foliage of the abundant Sand Verbena, Brown-eyed Primose, and Dune 
     Primrose. The only adult we found was a real fresh specimen which was 
     resting in the low growing verbena.  
                                                        -----Fred