S.E. Ariz. Butterfly Trip
Wanda Dameron
be496 at lafn.org
Wed Sep 23 15:47:55 EDT 1998
After a wonderful Labor Day Weekend butterflying in Sonora Mexico, (see
Fred Heath's report on 9/10 or at end) a few LANABA (Los Angeles Chapter
of NABA) members continued butterfling another 5 days in southeast
Arizona. While we were really spoiled by the quantity and variety in
Sonora, Arizona kept us on our toes. The experience we gained in
Sonora with leader Doug Danforth proved extremely valuable with quite a
number of the same species--71 species (scientific names and stats at
end of report, though tend to be low on quantities).
Picking up after Fred’s report: Tuesday afternoon, the Arizona
Giant-Skipper (Agathymus aryxna baueri) was found, distinctly different
from the Huachuca G-S, (Agathymus evansi) seen earlier that a.m.
Wednesday was spent in the peaceful San Rafael Grasslands seeing lots of
Variegated Fritillaries (Euptoieta claudia), Tropical Buckeyes (Junonia
genoveva nigrosuffusa) several puddle parties with many sulfurs, blues,
Tiny Checkerspots (Dymasia dymas chara) and surprisingly the summer
form of the Tropical Leafwing (Anaea aidea troglodyta--see Mariposas
Mexicanas Pl.54-6).
Back to Garden Canyon on Fort Huachuca property Thursday, driving as far
as possible on this road that is fast being allowed to deteriorate, then
walking to the cabin in the cool a.m. and butterflying our way back
down, also seeing a late Buff-breasted Flycatcher and a rattling
black-striped snake. Lots of Nabokov’s Satyrs (Cyllopsis pyracmon
nabokovi) and Red-bordered Satyrs (Gyrocheilus patrobas tritonia)
everyone’s favorite, with its black velvety background and distinctive
red marginal border , many Arizona Powdered-Skippers (Systasea zampa)
and a White Angled-Sulfur (Anteos chlorinde). Bordered Patches
(Chlosyne lacinia crocale) were undoubtedly the most pervasive butterfly
of the week, sometimes in the hundreds!
Friday, took Doug’s suggested route through Rucker Canyon--which proved
quite fruitful, especially near a riparian section where we had many
blues, the Snoutless Snout and our only Elada Checkerspots (Texola elada
perse) then Saturday, the roads around Portal in the Chiracauas& up to
Rustler Park. Leaving Sunday, went north along a deserty route to Hwy
10 and since was still early, south on Hwy 83 a couple of miles where at
a “t” intersection we found Mormon, Palmer’s & Arizona Metalmarks.
We took 4 specimens that were quite interesting = couldn’t figure out
with binoculars! A female Lyside Sulfur (Kricogonia lyside), because
didn’t realize females and sometimes males don’t have the dark HW
mark. A Golden-headed Scallopwing that thought was a Mazans til got
the magnifier on it in hand and able to see a few speckles of gold, and
a Snoutless Snout that was doing fine in the
wild--someone thought for awhile had another and thought it might be a
local population of aberrants, but evidently (?) was just broken off
--there is a dark spot where it should be. The fourth bug, a
checkerspot, to me looks more like Thessalia leanira cerrita (Emmel 4-38
or Audubon 559--found in Calif. desert mts.), as dorsal so very lightly
colored and heavier VHW markings, but not listed for Az. Only VHW in
Az. book like Black Checkerspot (Thessalia cyneas), but dorsal pictured
much darker but maybe just inexperience; however no records for the
Chiracahuas since early 1900’s, and was found nectaring along the road
between Paradise & Portal. We’re anxiously awaiting the thoughts of
the Arizona experts.
The companionship delightful, the weather good (rain late afternoon a
time or 2) and when you factor in the plentiful Arizona typical species
of Pipevine (B. philenor) and Two-tailed Swallowtails (P. multicaudata),
Sleepy (E. nicippe) and Tailed Oranges (E. proterpia), Cloudless (C.
sennae), & Dainty Sulfurs (N. iole), Mexican Yellows (E. mexicana) Leda
Ministreaks (M. leda), multitudes of Blues & Queens, variety of
Metalmarks, various Checkerspots, Crescents, Patches, Red-spotted
Purples (L. arthemis arizonensis), Dull Firetips (P. araxes) and other
neat Spreadwing skippers and Skipperlings, it was a GREAT TRIP!
Wanda Dameron, LANABA
Lorquin, Xerces, Lep Societies
Flutterby Press (BF materials)
be496 at lafn.org
Los Angeles, Calif. 91304
BUTTERFLIES OF SOUTHEAST ARIZONA
- Wanda Dameron, September 8 thru 13, 1998
Kim Garwood, Mary Shepherd, Richard Lindstrom, Tom O’Connell
1. 9/8 Garden Canyon 10-1:30 Stopped by Brodkins, Queens there, napped
p.m.; gang not get much other cyns
2. 9/9 Patagonia into San Rafael Grasslands 8:30-2:30 Too early for BF
Garden; ended with Rain; shopped Nature Center
3. 9/10 Garden Cyn 8:30-2:30 Pictographs, Clarks/Desert Spiny Lizard,
black striped snake rattling, Buff-breasted F/C
4. Miller Cyn 3-4:30 Dry, few BF; Beatty’s B&B: A.White-eared and im.
Violet-crowned Hummers
5. San Pedro River 5-6:20 L. Watherthrush (long supercillium, wide
behind eye, buff flanks); Hermit, Mac, Townsend’s
6. 9/11 Grasslands & Rucker Cyn 8:30-4 Ck. by Border Patrol, other car
almost hit deer; Hep. Tan. Gambel Quail, Lg. Jackrabbits
7. 9/12 Cave Ck. Cyn, & low roads, Rustler Pk &
back road to Paradise then Portal 8-5 im. Elegant Trogans
8. 9/13 Portal to San Simeon 8-10
9. 1-2 mi so. of Hwy 10 on Hwy 83 11:30-12:30 Metalmark corner @ “T”
intersection
x = too lazy, slow for numbers + = many < = I didn’t see
* = Lifer
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
SWALLOWTAILS PAPILIONIDAE FAMILY
Swallowtails
Black (Eastern) Battus polydamas asterius 2 2 6
Pipevine Battus philenor < + + + + 12 12 2 4
Two-tailed Papilio multicaudata 1 + 2 10
WHITES & SULFURS PIERIDAE FAMILY
Whites
Cabbage Pieris rapae 1
Checkered Pontia protodice < < < 15 1
Dogface
Southern Colias cesonia + 6 x 10 4 1
Oranges
Sleepy Eurema nicippe < < x X 30 30 18 6
Tailed Eurema proterpia x 50 x
Sulfurs
Cloudless Phoebis sennae marcellina x + x x 10 25 6 1
Dainty Nathalis iole < 6 x 20 4 3
Lyside Kricogonia lyside 1
Orange Colias eurytheme < x 3 1
White-angled Anteos chlorinde nivifera 1
Yellow
Mexican Eurema mexicana x x x 8 6 2
GOSSAMER-WINGS LYCAENIDAE FAMILY
Hairstreak
Gray Strymon melinus franki 2 1 x 4 1 <
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Ministreak
Leda Ministrymon leda 1 1
Blues
Acmon Plebejus acmon texana 12 x 4
Ceraunus Hemiargus ceraunus gyas 8 x 12
Marine Leptotes marina x 32 x 12
Reakirt’s Hemiargus isola alce + 10 x 40 10 6 3
Rita Euphilotes rita rita 6
Spring Azure Celastrina ladon cinerea x x 6 10
Western Pygmy- Brephidium exile x 6 < 2 1 1
METALMARKS Riodiniadae Family
Arizona Calephelis arizonensis 1
Fatal Calephelis nemesis nemesis 1
Mormon Apodemia mormo mormo <
Palmer’s Apodemia palmeri arizona 1 1 1 1
BRUSH-FOOTS NYMPHALIDAE FAMILY
Buckeyes
Common Junonia coenia 6 <1
Tropical Junonia genoveva nigrosuffusa 1 60 <1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Checkerspots
Black Thessalia cyneas 1?
Elada Texola elada perse 25
Theona Thessalia theona thecla <1 1 2
Tiny Dymasia dymas chara 50 2
CloakMourning Nymphalis antiopa 2 1 2 1 <1
Crescents
Mylitta Phyciodes mylitta thebais 1 2
Painted Phyciodes picta <1
Pearl Phyciodes tharos tharos 1
Texan Anthanassa texana 6 1
Empress
Empress Antonia Asterocampa antonia (celtis) 1
Fritillaries
Mexican Euptoieta hegesia hoffmanni 1
Variegated Euptoieta claudia 6 4 <1 <1 25 15 x 1
Ladies
American Vanessa virginiensis 1 2 1 6
Painted Vanessa cardui 1 4 3 x 2 12
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta rubria 1
Leafwings
Tropical Anaea aidea troglodyta summer form M54-6 1 <?
Longwings
Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae incarnata 1 1
Milkweeds
Monarch Danaus plexippus <1 3 1 4 6 ?
Queen Danaus gilippus strigosus 2 6 1 < 50 6 10 6
Patches Bordered Chlosyne lacina crocale 500+ 30 20 < 2 25 6 3 1
PurpleRed Spotted Limenitis arthemis arizonensis 6 2 8 2 4
Satyrs
Nabokov’s:Nabokov’s *** Cyllopsis pyracmon nabokovi 8* 35 < 6 1 <6
Red-bordered Satyr*** Gyrocheilus patrobas tritonia 2 50 x 10 18
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Sisters
California Adelpha bredowii eulalia 25 3 x x x 15 30
Snouts
American Libytheana bachmanii larvata 1 2 3;1less 4
SKIPPERS HESPERIIDAE FAMILY
FIRETIPS Pyrrhopyginae Subfamily
Dull Pyrrhopyge araxes 2 6 10 2
SPREADWING SKIPPERS Pyrginae Subfamily
Duskywings 1?
Funereal Erynnis funeralis 1 2 6 <1 2
Meridian Erynnis meridianus 1
Mournful Erynnis tristis <1
Pacuvius Erynnis pacuvius <1 1
Longtails
Dorantes Urbanus dorantes 1
Scallopwings
Golden-headed Staphylus ceos 1 1
Silverdrops
Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus huachuca 1
Checkered-Skippers
Common Pyrgus communis communis 2 20 x < 30 18
Desert Pyrgus philetas 15
Powdered-Skipper
Arizona *** Systasea zampa 1 12 1
GRASS SKIPPERS Hesperiniinae Subfamily
Skipperlings
Orange Copaeodes aurantiacus < < < 12 4
Tropical Least Skipper Ancyloxypha arene 1 4
Roadside-Skippers ?
Dotted Amblyscirtes eos 1 ?
Large Amblyscirtes exoteria 1 10
Skipper
Taxiles Poanes taxiles 1 <1
GIANT-SKIPPERS Megathyminae Subfamily
Arizona Agathymus baueri <1
Huachuca **** Agathymus evansi complex 1
>fred_heath at power-one.com wrote: 9/10/98
>
> A group of LA Chapter NABA (LANABA) members teamed up with a few
> folks from SE Arizona (Huachuca Audubon) and led by Doug Danforth,
> headed into Sonora, Mexico for a long Labor Day Weekend of butterfly
> watching. We went into central Sonora to Yecora and butterflied in
> that area on Sunday. On the way down on Saturday, we stopped at a few
> places including the Rio Matape at San Jose de Pimas and stopped at
> Baviacora on Monday during the return trip.
> We saw at least 110 species and probably over 115 once we sort out
> a few mystery butterflies. Because of the unusually wet rainy season
> butterflies were as abundant as Doug (who has been going down for more
> than 10 years) can remember. One puddle-party had 1000's of
> butterflies with probably 35 species.
> Since this is only my second trip to this area, I'm not sure what
> is really good, but the highlights for me were: Broad-banded
> Swallowtail (Papilio astyalus), the many puddle-parties filled with
> Pierids- Oranges, Sulphurs, and Yellows, the graceful Yellow-angled
> and White-angeled Sulphurs (Anteos maerula and clorinde), 10 species
> of hairstreaks including the Creamy Stripestreak (Arawacus jada) with
> an impossible NABA English name (try saying "stripestreak" three times
> fast or even once slow for that matter), that we all decided to go
> with the scientific name (Sorry, Jeff Glassberg et al!), several
> fanastic looking Blue (or now Maria) Metalmark (Lasaia maria), a few
> Rosita Patch (Chlosyne rosita), many Elf (Microtia elva) which I kept
> calling a Pixie (Melanis pixie) much to the temporary excitement of my
> companions, the little Hepburn's Patch (Texola hepburni), which is
> really a checkerspot, the Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana) was by
> far the most common butterfly on the trip, a Blackened Bluewing
> (Myscelia cyanthe), my personal favorites: a Glaucous and a
> Black-patched Cracker (Hamadryas glauconome and atlantis) which landed
> briefly on a few of us, a Kawinski's Beauty (Smyrna karwinskii) was
> one of the few I personally missed and regretted the most (but then I
> would have missed the Blackened Bluewing), Tropical Leafwing (Anaea
> aidea) was downright common, we picked out a Soldier (Danaus eresimus)
> among the many Queen (D. glippus).
> And then the skippers-- Starting out with the showy Dull Firetip
> (Pyrrhopype araxes), another questionable NABA English name, a number
> of longtails including: many Dorantes (Urbanus dorantes), Long-tailed
> Skipper (D. proteus), probable Mexican (Polythrix asine),
> White-striped (Chioides catillus) and Zilpa (C. zilpa); Skinner's
> Cloudywing (Achalarus albocilatus), the oddly named and postured
> Fritzgaertner's Flat (Celaenorrhinus fritzgaertneri) which was finally
> well seen after fleeting and tantalizing glimpses of an earlier
> individual which we thought would be destined to become one of the
> mystery creatures, the velvety black Orsines Bolla (Bolla orsines),
> the perplexing scallopwings (Staphylus) for which we had pictures of
> only 3 of the 6 species, and other than the quite distintive
> Golden-headed (S. ceos) are really tough. Doug tentatively, at least
> IDed one as a Mazans (S. mazans), but not knowing what 3 of them look
> like, I decided to pass on adding that one to my life list. Emorsa
> Skipper (Antigonus emorsa) was the most common of the skippers, the
> several Texas Powered Skipper (Systasea pulverulenta) always rated a
> "WOW," all four white-skippers (Heliopetes) were found: Erichson's (H.
> domicella), Northern (H. ericetorum), Laviana (H. laviana) and
> Turk's-cap (H. macaira), a handful of the Common Streaky-Skipper
> (Celotes nessus) never failed to amuse me, looking so rumpled (the
> butterfly, not me). We had very few grass skippers (Hesperiniinae
> subfamily) with Prenda Roadside Skipper (Amblyscirtes prenda) being
> the most common.
> By the end of trip, the NABA members had learned a lot of the
> scientific names and Doug had picked up on some of the English names,
> but I don't think you will ever hear him calling a Arawacus jada a
> Creamy Stripestreak.
> On Tuesday, after this weekend, all of the NABA folks wandered over
> to Garden Canyon in Fort Huachuca for a bit of slower paced butterfly
> watching. A couple of puddle parties turned up 7 species of blues (we
> had had only 3 species in Mexico) including the Rita Blue (Euphilotes
> rita), a new one for me. The highlight of day had to be the endemic
> Huachuca Giant-Skipper (Agathymus evansi) which posed on rock for all
> of us to get a good and long look. Red-bordered Satyr (Gyrocheilus
> patrobas) was voted the coolest looking butterfly for the day.
>
> ----Fred
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