[SoWestLep] Dearth Of Butterflies

[Mark Walker]

It's funny that you mentioned this, because a few weeks ago while visiting
Madera canyon, I too considered this possibility.  That day I saw a Red
Spotted Purple and a few Erynnis species, and absolutely nothing else.  The
creek was actually flowing, and there were many flowering plants.  The
birding, on the other hand, was superb.  I didn't particularly notice them
feeding on the ground, but I was impressed by the number of different
species there were - literally all over the place (it was a regular
orchestra of birds).  When I spotted the Purple, I followed it with my eyes
as it slowly floated above the creek.  It landed a few times on sun-exposed
boulders, and then after a few swooping birds - it vanished.

Of course, I can't imagine why this year would be any different as far as
what percentage of insects the birds would be consuming - unless the lack of
rainfall and/or periodic frosts have limited another of the birds major food
sources.

I'm anxious to hear how your trip goes next weekend.  Things are finally
starting to heat up, I think.  When I was in the Catalina mountains last
week, it looked as though the lower elevation (< 4000 ft.) was flowering
more than usual for this time of the year.  Also, above 5000 ft. it still
looked (and felt) like it was March!  So maybe things are going to turn
around there in Southern Arizona.

Mark Walker. 

Hank Brodkin wrote:



From: Hank & Priscilla Brodkin <hankb at theriver.com>

Again scouting for our field trip on Saturday I spent an hour or so in
Huachuca Canyon on Fort Huachuca.  There was plenty of water at the wet
spots.  But only 5 butterflies - 2 California Sisters (Adelpha
bredowii), a Common Blue (Celestrina argiolus), and a Deva Skipper
(Atrytonopsis deva).
There were also plenty of birds - mostly migrants and mostly insect
eaters.  I have been noticing for the past three weeks or so - most of
the birds were feeding on the ground around the wet spots - the exact
places I had been searching for butterflies - instead of up in the
trees.
I wonder if there would be a connection here between the scarcity of
butterflies especially around mudding spots and hordes of insectivorous
birds actively feeding around the mudding spots.
Is there anyone out there who might have other theories regarding this
years apparently lepodopteran scarcity in our part of the country?
-- 
	             Hank Brodkin
	          Carr Canyon, Cochise County, AZ
             SouthEast Arizona Butterfly Association
	          Send Mailto:hankb at theriver.com