[Leps-l] Zerene cesonia (Southern Dogface) migration in Baja

[Michael Gochfeld]

We are in La Paza, Baja California sur, this week.
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There are huge numbers of Dogface butterflies. Yesterday we observed that there was a distinct southward migration. The day before there was evidence of a high storm mortality with intact and fragments of butterflies dead on beaches presumably from encounters with the Tropical Storm.

We know that this species migrates northward in the States.  

Is there a list member or contact from Baja (or West Mexico) who can advise whether this is a usual, unusual, pr unique occurrence.  

Also the migrants are flying very high, well over 100 m, and indeed some are passing in binocular range (above naked eye detection). Which seems unusual for a flatland.

Also we were surprised to find them nectaring on Bougainvillea.  



MICHAEL GOCHFELD  AND JOANNA BURGER