Bf of Big Bend

[JimJoanJoy at aol.com]

To listers,

The following butterflies were observed at Big Bend May 29 and May 30. 
Conditions were generally on the dry side due to a winter and spring drought 
that has afflicted the southwest. There have been some recent rains though 
very spotty. Nearly 4 tenths of an inch fell at Panther Junction on Friday 
the 28th. That same night about a quarter of an inch fell at the Big Bend 
Lodge.

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) > 100
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)  3
Two-tailed swallowtail (Papilio multicaudatus) 5
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) > 20
Checkered White (Pieris protodice)  > 30
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)  2
Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia)  > 10
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)  > 100
Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicanum)  5
Dainy Sulphur (Nathalis iole)   > 50
Lyside Sulphur (Kricagonia lyside)  4
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)  > 70
Poling's Hairstreak (Satyrium polingi)  2
Sandia Hairstreak (Sandia mcfarlandi)  25
Great Blue Hairstreak (Atlides halesus)  2
Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)  0
Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)    3
Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola)  > 200
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)  > 200
Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon)   2
Western Pigmy-Blue (Brephidium exile)   3
Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo)  10
Chisos Metalmark (Apodemia chisosensis)  12
Rawson's Metalmark (Calephelis rawsoni)  2
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)   7
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)   10
Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)  > 50
Theona Checkerspot (Thessalia theona)  > 30
Bordered Patch ( Chlosyne lacinia)  8 
Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana)  > 20
Vesta Crescent (Phyciodes vesta)     6
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationus)  3
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)  1
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 1
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)  3
" Texas" Sister (Adelpha bredowii)   5
Tropical Leafwing (Anaea aidea)  3
Empress Leilea (Asterocampa leilea)  > 10
Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton)  2
Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata)  4
Queen (Danaus gilippus)  > 10

Golden-banded Skipper ( A. cellus)  > 20
Acacia Skipper ( C. hippalus)  > 10
Texas Powdered-Skipper ( S. pulverulenta)  1
Funeereal Duskywing (E. funeralis)   > 10
White Common Checkered Skipper (P. albescens) > 30
Desert Checkered Skipper (P. philetas)  2
Common Sootywing (P. catullus)   4
Orange Skipperling  (C. aurantiacus) > 30
Sachem   (A. campestris)  > 10
Dotted Roadside Skipper ( A. eos)  1

There was evidence of even heavier recent rains up towards Alpine, TX as 
hillsides were green and flowers were plentiful along the road for about 30 
miles south of Alpine. Thistles, Star Thistles, Pepper Grass, Mexican Hat, 
Mint and many others offered  delightful viewing for us travelers and many of 
the same  common butterflies were observed as well.

Jim Brock