July 4th Weekend

[Mark Walker]

Road tripping over the long U.S. holiday weekend - couldn't take part in any
official counts, but I did manage to do some butterfly counting.  I drove
from Mission Viejo, CA to Cambria, CA on Friday, July 2, stopping at Frazier
Park, Kern Co.  I was just there two weeks ago, and it's amazing how much
can change in just two weeks.  Different plants were in bloom, and new
butterflies were on the wing.  This time, I had the whole family with me.
Here's what we saw:
 
Papilio rutulus (Western Tiger Swallowtail) - 2
Pontius protodice (Checkered White) - 12
Colias eurytheme (Orange Sulpher) - 4
Colias harfordii (Harford's Sulpher) - 3
Lycaena arota (Tailed Copper) > 30
Lycaena heteronea (Blue Copper) > 20
Satyrium tetra (Mahogany Hairstreak) - 2
Satyrium californica (California Hairstreak) > 30
Satyrium saepium (Hedgerow Hairstreak) - 2
Callophrys nelsoni (Nelson's Hairstreak) - 1
Euphilotes battoides (Square-spotted Blue) > 20
Plebejus icarioides (Boisduval's Blue) > 20
Plebejus acmon (Acmon Blue) > 30
Speyeria coronis (Coronis Fritillary) > 30
Limenitis lorquini (Lorquin's Admiral) - 5
Adelpha bredowii (California Sister) - 4
Cercyonis pegala (Common Wood Nymph) > 30
 
On Saturday, July 3, I spent the day in Templeton, CA (San Luis Obispo Co).
Walking along a creek, I saw the following (it's always nice to find the
Dryope's):
 
Papilio rutulus (Western Tiger Swallowtail) - 6
Limenitis lorquini (Lorquin's Admiral) - 1
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) > 20
Colias eurytheme (Orange Sulpher) - 11
Satyrium sylvinus dryope (Dryope Hairstreak) - 12
Plebejus acmon (Acmon Blue) - 3
Danaus plexippus (Monarch) - 1
Phyciodes mylitta (Mylitta Crescentspot) - 1
Pyrgus communis (Common Checkered Skipper) - 4
 
On Monday, July 5, I drove up Highway 395 and into Tulare Co. on the road to
Kennedy Meadows with my two children.  After a long drive, we took a long
walk.  The weather was very hot in the Mojave, but was pleasant up higher.
The road is treacherous, however, and we passed many a trailer coming down
with hot brakes.  Not a very nice way to end a long weekend.  Beautiful
country, though, and lots of butterflies:
 
unidentified white Pierid (Euchloe?) - 1
Lycaena xanthoides (Great Copper) - 4
Satyrium behrii (Behr's Hairstreak) > 30
Callophrys spinetorum or gryneus? (Thicket or Siva Hairstreak)  - 24
Brephidium exile (Western Pygmy Blue) - 2
Plebejus saepiolus (Greenish Blue) > 20
Plebejus lupinus (Lupine Blue) - 16
Lycaeides idas (Northern Blue) - 2
Chlosyne palla (Northern Checkerspot) > 20
Poladryas arachne (Arachne Checkerspot) - 1
Euphydryas chalcedona (Chalcedon Checkerspot) - 2
Limenitis lorquini (Lorquin's Admiral) - 3
Adelpha bredowii (California Sister) - 1
Hesperia juba (Juba Skipper) > 30
Heliopetes ericetorum (Large White Skipper) - 3
Polites sonora (Sonora Skipper) - 8
 
Hope your weekend butterflying was equally productive.  I'm finding things
in CA to be a little late - but very abundant.  I haven't been butterflying
in drought-ridden San Diego county since April - are things warming up down
there as well?
 
Mark Walker
Mission Viejo, CA