Shelter Valley, CA 4/15/00

[Mark Walker]

The Leps of the higher desert elevations in California were really heating
up last weekend.  Many Leps were seen in the Mojave desert, and Shelter
Valley - in San Diego Co. - had the highest concentration of butterflies on
the wing that I've ever seen.  Most were E. chalcedona ssp hennei and
Chlosyne californica (California Patch), but there was quite a diversity as
well.  I arrived at 11:30 a.m. and was gone by 3:00 p.m.

Here's a list of positives:

Pontia beckerii (Becker's White)
Pontia protodice (Checkered White)
Anthocharis sara (Sara Orangetip)
Anthocharis lanceolata (Gray Marble)
Eurema nicippe (Sleepy Orange)
Callophrys gryneus loki (Loki Hairstreak)
Leptotes marina (Marine Blue)
Plebejus acmon (Acmon Blue)
Glaucopsyche lygdamus (Silvery Blue)
Calephelis wrighti (Wright's Metalmark)
Chlosyne californica (California Patch)
Euphydryas chalcedona hennei (Henne's Checkerspot)
Systasea zampa (Arizona Powdered Skipper)
Capoedes sp?
Erynnis sp?

Mark Walker.
Mission Viejo, CA