Pearblossum, CA 4/25

[Mark Walker]

Bill Gendron and I made for the high desert on yet another butterflying
trip.  The weather was hot and sunny, and the hilltopping Lep activity was
pretty good.  I guess, based on the Kern county reports, that this area of
the Mojave desert did receive appreciable rainfall this spring.  Lots of
nectar sources, though few butterflies could be found at nectar.

We saw lots of species, the Mormon Metalmark and Spring White being the most
common.  Here's our list (Bill, make any corrections if I've forgotten
something):

Papilio rutulus (Western Tiger Swallowtail)

Pontia beckerii (Becker's White)
Pontia protodice (Checkered White)
Pontia sisymbrii (Spring White)
Euchloe lotta (Desert Marble)
Anthocharis cethura (Desert Orangetip)
Anthocharis sara (Sara Orangetip)
Anthocharis lanceolata (Gray Marble)

Callophrys gryneus (Juniper Hairstreak)
Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak)

Leptotes marina (Marine Blue)
Euphilotes enoptes (Mojave Blue)
Glaucopsyche lygdamus (Silvery Blue)
Plebejus lupini (Lupine Blue)
Celastrina ladon (Echo Blue)

Apodemia mormo (Mormon Metalmark)

Thessalia leanira (Leanira and Cerrita Checkerspot)
Chlosyne neumogeni (Neumogen's Checkerspot)

two Erynnis sp. (including Lacustra Duskywing)

Mark Walker
Mission Viejo, CA