Fwd: Re: Cyna Blue @ VNC, RGV - Dec. 3

[Chris J. Durden]

>Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 10:42:02 -0600
>To: tx-BUTTERFLY at LISTSERV.UH.EDU
>From: "Chris J. Durden" <drdn at mail.utexas.edu>
>Subject: Re: Cyna Blue @ VNC, RGV - Dec. 3
>
>In my experience *cyna* is occasional wherever it is found. It is a 
>typical weed species that moves around following temporary populations of 
>potential foodplants in disturbed ground. Some years it shows up as one or 
>two individuals on Barton Creek in Austin. I have found it as far North as 
>Tulia in Swisher Co. It is occasional along cleared trails in rainforest 
>as at Sirena, Corcovado NP in Costa Rica and Tikal in Guatemala. The only 
>place I have found it abundant was on one occasion years ago at Gomez 
>Farias in Tamaulipas in first year maize fields cut out of the 
>semi-evergreen tropical forest that used to occur there. To look for it in 
>Central and South Texas, concentrate on shrubby cliffs, arroyo banks and 
>eroding roadsides with dry weedy growth between the shrubs. The butterfly 
>likes to feed at tubular flowers. With its slightly elongate wings it 
>almost disappears into the flower. Contrary to the story repeated in 
>Klots' Peterson's Eastern Field Guide *cyna* is not an Imported Blue, and 
>is not conspecific with the Tiny Grass Blue *Zizula gaika* = *Zizula 
>hylax* of the African and Asian tropics, and had nothing to do with Jeff 
>Davis' camels.
>    Larval foodplants of *Z. cyna* are poorly known but appear to include 
> Zygophyllaceae: *Tribulus* Caltrop, and Oxalidaceae: *Oxalis* Agrito. 
> Larval foodplants of *Z. hylax* are better known as Acanthaceae: 
> including *Justicia* and *Ruellia*, Oxalidaceae: *Oxalis*, Verbenaceae: 
> *Lantana, and Zygophyllaceae: *Tribulus*.
>....................Chris Durden
>
>At 08:54 AM 12/11/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>>Cyna Blue (Zizula cyna)
>>This species is a rare stray along the Lower Rio Grande, although
>>interestingly it's type locality is San Antonio. There seems to be a number
>>of Trans Pecos county records, does anyone (Ro?) know if it's more common
>>(less rare) out there? Elizabeth Cavazos has agreed to let the USGS site use
>>her photo. Mike
>>
>>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>>Mike Quinn
>>Invertebrate Biologist
>>Wildlife Diversity Branch
>>Texas Parks & Wildlife
>>mike.quinn at tpwd.state.tx.us
>>
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