Butterflies Seen

Patagonia Gardens

September 6, 2026
Trip Butterfly Report:

We had a great time on our tour of Patagonia's gardens plus a short foray to Red Mountain Road (species with asterisk *) that was cut short by thunderstorms yielded 44 species:

  1. Pipevine Swallowtail                   Battus                  philenor
  2. Black Swallowtail                        Papilio                 polyxenes
  3. Checkered White                         Pontia                  protodice
  4. Cabbage White                            Pieris                    rapae
  5. Clouded Sulphur                          Colias                   philodice
  6. Orange Sulphur                           Colias                   eurytheme
  7. Southern Dogface                       Colias cesonia     
  8. Cloudless Sulphur                        Phoebis                sennae
  9. Mexican Yellow                           Eurema                mexicana
  10. Tailed Orange                              Eurema                proterpia
  11. *Dainty Sulphur                           Nathalis               iole
  12. Gray Hairstreak                           Strymon               melinus
  13. Leda Ministreak                           Ministrymon        leda
  14. Western Pygmy-Blue                   Brephidium          exile
  15. Marine Blue                                Leptotes               marina
  16. Ceraunus Blue                             Hemiargus           ceraunus
  17. Fatal Metalmark                         Calephelis            nemesis
  18. Arizona Metalmark                     Calephelis            arizonensis
  19. Palmer's Metalmark                   Apodemia            palmeri
  20. American Snout                           Libytheana           carinenta
  21. Gulf Fritillary                               Agraulis               vanillae
  22. Variegated Fritillary                    Euptoieta             claudia
  23. Bordered Patch                           Chlosyne              lacinia
  24. Tiny Checkerspot                         Dymasia              dymas
  25. Elada Checkerspot                       Texola                  elada perse
  26. Texan Crescent                            Phyciodes            texana
  27. American Lady                            Vanessa               virginiensis
  28. Painted Lady                                Vanessa               cardui
  29. *Common Buckeye                     Junonia                coenia
  30. *Tropical Buckeye                       Junonia                genoveva
  31. Hackberry Emperor                     Asterocampa       celtis
  32. Queen                                          Danaus                gilippus
  33. Dorantes Longtail                        Urbanus               dorantes
  34. Desert Cloudywing                      Achalarus             casica
  35. Golden-headed Scallopwing       Staphylus             ceos
  36. Funereal Duskywing                    Erynnis                 funeralis
  37. * 'White' Common Checkered-Skipper                   Burnsius            communis albescens
  38. White-tufted Sootywing              Pholisora              catullus
  39. Tropical Least Skipper                 Ancyloxypha        arene
  40. Orange Skipperling                      Copaeodes           aurantiacus
  41. Fiery Skipper                                Hylephila             phyleus
  42. Large Roadside-Skipper               Amblyscirtes        exoteria
  43. Toltec Roadside-Skipper              Amblyscirtes        tolteca
  44. Eufala Skipper                             Lerodea               eufala

Portal

August 7, 2026
Trip Butterfly Report:

I want to thank you all once again for your wonderful contributions to this count. I couldn't do it without all of your great help! 

Overall, our totals were pretty good this year. Surprisingly so, based on a lack of nectar, especially in the lower elevations. 76 species is very presentable, though. Only 4 shy of Patagonia this year! We've only beat them once, in 2023, with 83 species, which was the highest count in the nation! Fourteen Individuals in 5 parties found and identified:

  1. Pipevine Swallowtail                 Battus philenor  16
  2. Black Swallowtail                        Papilio polyxenes  2
  3. Western Giant Swallowtail      Papilio Rumiko  3
  4. Two-tailed Swallowtail             Papilio multicaudata  24
  5. Checkered White                       Pontia protodice  5
  6. Orange Sulphur                           Colias eurytheme  5
  7. Southern Dogface                      Colias cesonia  10
  8. Cloudless Sulphur                       Phoebis sennae  127
  9. Large Orange Sulphur               Phoebis agarithe  1
  10. Lyside Sulphur                             Kricogonia lyside  2
  11. Mexican Yellow                           Eurema mexicana  20
  12. Tailed Orange                              Eurema proterpia  4
  13. Sleepy Orange                             Eurema nicippe  46
  14. Dainty Sulphur                             Nathalis iole  41
  15. Siva' Juniper Hairstreak            Callophrys gryneus siva  14
  16. Western Pygmy-Blue                Brephidium exile  33
  17. Marine Blue                                  Leptotes marina  16
  18. Ceraunus Blue                             Hemiargus ceraunus  95
  19. Central Dotted-Blue                  Euphilotes centralis  4
  20. Reakirt’s Blue                               Hemiargus isola  22
  21. ‘Echo’ Spring Azure                    Celastrina ladon  25
  22. Acmon Blue                                  Plebejus acmon texana  1
  23. Fatal Metalmark                         Calephelis nemesis  1
  24. Arizona Metalmark                    Calephelis arizonensis
  25. Zela Metalmark                           Emesis zela  1
  26. Ares Metalmark                          Emesis ares  1
  27. Mormon Metalmark                 Apodemia mormo  14
  28. Palmer's Metalmark                  Apodemia palmeri  4
  29. American Snout                          Libytheana carinenta  141
  30. Gulf Fritillary                                 Agraulis vanilla  1
  31. Variegated Fritillary                   Euptoieta claudia  20
  32. Mexican Fritillary                        Euptoieta hegesia  1
  33. Theona Checkerspot                 Chlosyne Theona  1
  34. Bordered Patch                           Chlosyne lacinia  62
  35. Tiny Checkerspot                       Dymasia dymas  2
  36. Arizona Checkerspot                Texola perse  35
  37. Mylitta Crescent                         Phyciodes mylitta  2
  38. Satyr Comma                               Polygonia satyrus  1
  39. Painted Lady                                Vanessa cardui  142
  40. Common Buckeye                     Junonia coenia  2
  41. Red-spotted Purple                  Limenitis arthemis astyanax 2
  42. ‘Arizona’ California Sister        Adelpha bredowii  12
  43. Tawny Emperor                          Asterocampa clyton  1
  44. Canyonland Satyr                       Cyllopsis  pertepida  1
  45. Red Satyr                                       Megisto rubricata  23
  46. Monarch                                        Danaus Plexippus  2
  47. Queen                                            Danaus gilippus  33
  48. Dull Firetip                                    Pyrrhopyge araxes  5
  49. Silver-spotted Skipper             Epargyreus clarus  6
  50. Desert Cloudywing                    Achalarus casica  2
  51. Northern Cloudywing               Cecropterus pylades  194
  52. Drusius Cloudywing                  Thorybes drusius  7
  53. Acacia Skipper                             Cogia hippalus  16
  54. Golden-headed Scallopwing  Staphylus ceos  34
  55. ‘Arizona’ Juvenal's Duskywing    Erynnis juvenalis clitus  4
  56. Meridian Duskywing                 Erynnis meridianus  2
  57. Mournful Duskywing                Erynnis tristis  2
  58. Pacuvius Duskywing                  Erynnis pacuvius  2
  59. Funereal Duskywing                 Erynnis funeralis  4
  60. Common/White Checkered-Skipper        Pyrgus communis/albescens  6
  61. Desert Checkered-Skipper     Pyrgus philetas 2
  62. Common Streaky-Skipper       Celotes nessus  2
  63. White-tufted Sootywing         Pholisora albicirrus  80
  64. Four-spotted Skipperling        Piruna polingi  9
  65. Orange Skipperling                    Copaeodes aurantiacus  10
  66. Pahaska Skipper                         Hesperia Pahaska  1
  67. Taxiles Skipper                            Poanes taxiles  5
  68. Moon-marked Skipper            Atrytonopsis lunus  6
  69. Large Roadside-Skipper          Amblyscirtes exoteria  2
  70. Cassus Roadside-Skipper        Amblyscirtes cassus  7
  71. Bronze Roadside-Skipper       Amblyscirtes aenus  29
  72. Elissa Roadside-Skipper           Amblyscirtes elissa  1
  73. Texas Roadside-Skipper          Amblyscirtes texanae  12
  74. Nysa Roadside-Skipper            Amblyscirtes nysa  1
  75. Dotted Roadside-Skipper       Amblyscirtes eos  1
  76. Arizona Giant-Skipper              Agathymus aryxna  1

 

Total 76 species, 1481 individuals.

Patagonia

August 4, 2026
Trip Butterfly Report:

Final results of the 43rd annual Patagonia count  (# and Species in bold print have been recorded on every count):

#                    SPECIES

            HESPERIIDAE - SKIPPERS

10        Apyrrothrix stallingsi - Dull firetip

15        B. albescens/communis - Checkered skipper sp.

17        Burnsius philetas - Desert checkered-skipper

2          Cecropterus casica - Desert cloudywing

36        Cecropterus dorantes - Dorantes longtail

4          Cecropterus drusius - Drusius cloudywing

432      Cecropterus pylades - Northern cloudywing

30        Celotes sabinus - Arizona streaky skipper

4          Codatractus arizonensis - Arizona skipper

126      Cogia hippalus - Acacia skipper

9          Erynnis funeralis - Funereal duskywing

4          Erynnis tristis - Mournful duskywing

156      Pholisora albicirrus - White-tufted sootywing

84        Staphylus ceos - Golden-headed scallopwing

2          Systasia zampa - Arizona powdered-skipper

0          Adopaeoides prittwitzi - Sunrise skipper

15        Amblyscirtes aenus - Bronze roadside-skipper

1          Amblyscirtes cassus - Cassus roadside-skipper

3          Amblyscirtes elissa - Elissa roadside-skipper

5          Amblyscirtes eos - Dotted roadside-skipper

3          Amblyscirtes exoteria - Large roadside-skipper

2          Amblyscirtes nysa - Nysa roadside-skipper

9          Amblyscirtes texanae - Texas roadside-skipper

1          Amblyscirtes tolteca - Toltec roadside-skipper

2          Ancyloxypha arene - Tropical least skipper

1          Atalopedes campestris - Sachem

0          Atrytonopsis edwardsi - Sheep skipper

2          Calpodes ethlius - Brazilian skipper

2          Hesperia pahaska - Pahaska skipper

49        Hylephila phyleus - Fiery skipper

2          Lerema ochrius - Ocherous clouded skipper

2          Lerodea eufala - Eufala skipper

22        Oarisma aurantiaca - Orange skipperling

1          Polites carus - Carus skipper

           

PAPILIONIDAE - SWALLOWTAILS

119      Battus philenor - Pipevine swallowtail

6          Papilio polyxenes - Black swallowtail

33        Pterourus multicaudata - Two-tailed swallowtail

           

PIERIDAE - WHITES AND SULPHURS

49        Eurema mexicana - Mexican yellow

57        Eurema nicippe - Sleepy orange

45        Eurema proterpia - Tailed orange

7          Colias eurytheme - Orange sulphur

19        Kricogonia lyside - Lyside sulphur

59        Nathalis iole - Dainty sulphur

2          Phoebis agarithe - Large orange sulphur

1381    Phoebis sennae - Cloudless sulphur

2          Pieris rapae - Cabbage white

2          Pontia protodice - Checkered white

38        Zerene cesonia - Southern dogface

 

            RIODINIDAE - METALMARKS

2          Apodemia ares - Ares metalmark

1          Apodemia mejicanus - Mexican metalmark

12        Apodemia zela - Zela metalmark

1          Calephelis arizonensis - Arizona metalmark

26        Calephelis nemesis - Fatal metalmark

           

LYCAENIDAE - BLUES AND HAIRSTREAKS

1          Atlides halesus - Great blue hairstreak

1          Ministrymon leda - Leda ministreak

2          Strymon melinus - Gray hairstreak

35        Brephidium exilis - Western pygmy blue

7          Echinargus isola - Reakirt's blue

68        Hemiargus ceraunus - Ceraunus blue

1          Icaricia acmon - Texas acmon blue

35        Leptotes marina - Marine blue

             

LIBYTHEIDAE - SNOUT BUTTERFLIES

549      Libytheana carinenta - American snout

           

NYMPHALIDAE - BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES

20        Anthanassa texana - Texas crescent

4          Asterocampa leilia - Empress leilia

1          Asterocampa clyton - Tawny emperor

629      Chlosyne lacinia - Bordered patch

9          Chlosyne theona - Theona checkerspot

6          Cissia rubricata - Red satyr

1          Cyllopsis pyracmon - Nabokov's satyr

49        Danaus gilippus - Queen

28        Dione vanillae - Gulf fritillary

335      Dymasia dymas - Tiny checkerspot

17        Euptoieta claudia - Variegated fritillary

3          Junonia coenia - Common buckeye

2          Junonia nigrosuffusa - Tropical buckeye

3          Limenitis archippus - Viceroy

1          Limenitis a. arizonensis - Red-spotted purple

1          Nymphalis antiopa - Mourning cloak

6          Phyciodes picta - Painted crescent

280      Texola perse - Arizona checkerspot

6          Vanessa cardui - Painted lady

 

80        TOTAL SPECIES COUNTED

5099      TOTAL INDIVIDUALS COUNTED

Santa Rita Mountains Summer

July 31, 2026
Trip Butterfly Report:

Considering the ongoing drought in SE AZ and extreme heat on count day, the 13 individual counters in 7 parties had a pretty successful count. A huge thanks for all of your efforts! We hope you can join us for the fall count about the end of September - date TBA.

 

The highlights:  

  • 65 species - and new to the count:  Hammock Skipper, Tropical Least Skipper, and Sheep Skipper (species in bold print).
  • Highest numbers for Cloudless Sulphur, Bordered Patch, Acacia Skipper, and Dotted Roadside-skipper.
  • Highest number of individuals counted on any previous summer count.

Butterflies identified and counted:

  1. Pipevine Swallowtail                 Battus philenor  13
  2. Black Swallowtail                        Papilio polyxenes  3
  3. Western Giant Swallowtail      Papilio Rumiko  6
  4. Two-tailed Swallowtail             Papilio multicaudata  52
  5. Orange Sulphur                           Colias eurytheme  11
  6. Southern Dogface                      Colias cesonia  3
  7. Cloudless Sulphur                       Phoebis sennae  480
  8. Lyside Sulphur                             Kricogonia lyside  15
  9. Mexican Yellow                           Eurema mexicana  12
  10. Tailed Orange                              Eurema proterpia  2
  11. Sleepy Orange                             Eurema nicippe  12
  12. Dainty Sulphur                             Nathalis iole  3
  13. Siva' Juniper Hairstreak            Callophrys gryneus siva  6
  14. Leda Ministreak                          Ministrymon leda  2
  15. Marine Blue                                  Leptotes marina  16
  16. Ceraunus Blue                             Hemiargus Ceraunus  51
  17. Reakirt’s Blue                               Hemiargus isola  7
  18. ‘Echo’ Spring Azure                    Celastrina ladon   41
  19. Acmon Blue                                  Plebejus acmon  2
  20. Fatal Metalmark                         Calephelis nemesis 2
  21. Arizona Metalmark                    Calephelis arizonensis  7
  22. Zela Metalmark                           Emesis zela  3
  23. Palmer's Metalmark                  Apodemia palmeri  1
  24. American Snout                          Libytheana carinenta  55
  25. Gulf Fritillary                                 Agraulis vanilla  3
  26. Variegated Fritillary                   Euptoieta claudia  2
  27. Bordered Patch                           Chlosyne lacinia  627
  28. Tiny Checkerspot                       Dymasia dymas  168
  29. Arizona Checkerspot                Texola elada perse  588
  30. Texan Crescent                           Phyciodes texana 7
  31. American Lady                             Vanessa virginiensis  2
  32. Painted Lady                                Vanessa cardui  1
  33. West Coast Lady                         Vanessa Annabella  1
  34. Red-spotted Purple                  Limenitis arthemis astyanax  12
  35. Weidemeyer's Admiral            Limenitis weidemeyerii
  36. Arizona Sister                              Adelpha eulalia  23
  37. Empress Leilia                              Asterocampa leilia  5
  38. Nabokov's Satyr                          Cyllopsis pyracmon  5
  39. Red Satyr                                       Megisto rubricata  42
  40. Queen                                            Danaus gilippus  19
  41. Dull Firetip                                    Pyrrhopyge araxes  27
  42. Silver-spotted Skipper             Epargyreus clarus  2
  43. Hammock Skipper                     Polygonus leo  1
  44. Arizona Skipper                          Codatractus arizonensis  17
  45. Dorantes Longtail                       Urbanus Dorantes  7
  46. Desert Cloudywing                    Achalarus casica  1
  47. Northern Cloudywing               Cecropterus pylades  295
  48. Drusius Cloudywing                  Thorybes drusius  2
  49. Acacia Skipper                             Cogia hippalus  151
  50. Golden-headed Scallopwing  Staphylus ceos  33
  51. Mournful Duskywing                Erynnis tristis  2
  52. Funereal Duskywing                 Erynnis funeralis  3
  53. Desert Checkered-Skipper     Pyrgus philetas  35
  54. Common Streaky-Skipper       Celotes nessus  23
  55. White-tufted Sootywing         Pholisora albicirrus  23
  56. Orange Skipperling                    Copaeodes aurantiacus  12
  57. Pahaska Skipper                         Hesperia Pahaska  2
  58. Tropical least skipper (Ancyloxypha arene)  1
  59. Sheep Skipper (Atrytonopsis edwardsi)  1
  60. Taxiles Skipper                            Poanes taxiles  8
  61. Large Roadside-Skipper          Amblyscirtes exoteria 8
  62. Cassus Roadside-Skipper        Amblyscirtes cassus  10
  63. Bronze Roadside-Skipper       Amblyscirtes aenus  19
  64. Texas Roadside-Skipper          Amblyscirtes texanae  2
  65. Dotted Roadside-Skipper       Amblyscirtes eos  7

Total individuals counted: 3050

Ramsey Canyon

July 28, 2026
Trip Butterfly Report:

Eleven counters in five parties found and identified:

  1. Pipevine Swallowtail                 Battus philenor  91
  2. Black Swallowtail                        Papilio polyxenes  3
  3. Western Giant Swallowtail      Papilio Rumiko  1
  4. Two-tailed Swallowtail             Papilio multicaudata  26
  5. Checkered White                       Pontia protodice  103
  6. Cabbage White                            Pieris rapae  1
  7. Orange Sulphur                           Colias eurytheme  6
  8. Southern Dogface                      Colias cesonia  2
  9. Cloudless Sulphur                       Phoebis sennae  75
  10. Lyside Sulphur                             Kricogonia lyside  8
  11. Mexican Yellow                           Eurema mexicana  4
  12. Sleepy Orange                             Eurema nicippe  9
  13. Dainty Sulphur                             Nathalis iole 4
  14. Siva' Juniper Hairstreak            Callophrys gryneus siva  2
  15. Gray Hairstreak                           Strymon melinus  1
  16. Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak         Strymon istapa  1
  17. Western Pygmy-Blue                Brephidium exile  58
  18. Marine Blue                                  Leptotes marina  3
  19. Ceraunus Blue                             Hemiargus Ceraunus  32
  20. Reakirt’s Blue                               Hemiargus isola  1
  21. ‘Echo’ Spring Azure                    Celastrina ladon 74
  22. Fatal Metalmark                         Calephelis nemesis  1
  23. Zela Metalmark                           Emesis zela  1
  24. American Snout                          Libytheana carinenta  3
  25. Gulf Fritillary                                 Agraulis vanilla  2
  26. Variegated Fritillary                   Euptoieta claudia  2
  27. Theona Checkerspot                 Chlosyne Theona  2
  28. Bordered Patch                           Chlosyne lacinia  967
  29. AZ Checkerspot                          Texola perse  32
  30. Mourning Cloak                          Nymphalis antiopa  1
  31. Painted Lady                                Vanessa cardui  3
  32. Red-spotted Purple                  Limenitis arthemis astyanax   4
  33. ‘Arizona’ California Sister        Adelpha bredowii  8
  34. Canyonland Satyr                       Cyllopsis  pertepida  2
  35. Red Satyr                                       Megisto rubricata  12
  36. Monarch                                        Danaus Plexippus  1
  37. Queen                                            Danaus gilippus  16
  38. Dull Firetip                                    Pyrrhopyge araxes  3
  39. Arizona Skipper                          Codatractus arizonensis  3
  40. Dorantes Longtail                       Urbanus Dorantes  5
  41. Desert Cloudywing                    Achalarus casica 1
  42. Northern Cloudywing               Cecropterus pylades  739
  43. Drusius Cloudywing                  Thorybes drusius  4
  44. Acacia Skipper                             Cogia hippalus  27
  45. Gold-costa Skipper                    Cogia caicus  13
  46. Golden-headed Scallopwing  Staphylus ceos  35
  47. Arizona Powdered-Skipper    Systasea zampa  1
  48. Mournful Duskywing                Erynnis tristis  2
  49. Funereal Duskywing                 Erynnis funeralis  1
  50. Common/White Checkered-Skipper        Pyrgus communis/ albescens  1
  51. Desert Checkered-Skipper     Pyrgus philetas  1
  52. White-tufted Sootywing         Pholisora albicirrus  31
  53. Saltbush Sootywing                   Hesperopsis Alpheus  3
  54. Edward's Skipperling                Oarisma edwardsii  2
  55. Orange Skipperling                    Copaeodes aurantiacus  4
  56. Fiery Skipper                                Hylephila phyleus  5
  57. Taxiles Skipper                            Poanes taxiles  1
  58. Large Roadside-Skipper          Amblyscirtes exoteria  3
  59. Cassus Roadside-Skipper        Amblyscirtes cassus  7
  60. Bronze Roadside-Skipper       Amblyscirtes aenus  6
  61. Elissa Roadside-Skipper           Amblyscirtes elissa  1
  62. Texas Roadside-Skipper          Amblyscirtes texanae  2
  63. Toltec Roadside-Skipper         Amblyscirtes Tolteca  1
  64. Nysa Roadside-Skipper            Amblyscirtes nysa  6
  65. Dotted Roadside-Skipper       Amblyscirtes eos  1
  66. Eufala Skipper                             Lerodea eufala

 

Total 65 species     2473 individuals.

Sabino Canyon Summer

July 24, 2026
Trip Butterfly Report:

As expected, the butterfly survey results were notably low, though it was not quite as bad as I had anticipated. There were, however, a few exciting finds. Edwards' Skipperling has only appeared on the count one other time (2018), and Moon-marked Skipper is also quite rare for the area and has only been recorded twice during the count (2019 and 2022). Lyside Sulphurs were also present in good numbers, resulting in our highest summer count for the species.

Several species that we typically expect to see were absent, including a number of Lycaenidae such as Reakirt's Blue, Leda Ministreak, Gray Hairstreak, and, of course, Colorado Hairstreak. Overall, conditions never seemed especially productive at any site, which has been the trend for the past month or so. Despite that, it's somewhat surprising that we recorded the fifth-highest total number of individuals over the nearly 20 years of surveys, while tying for seventh in species diversity. We had another excellent turnout this year, allowing us to cover a large area, which undoubtedly contributed to those totals.

There is certainly a great deal to consider given the prolonged lack of rainfall over the past few years. It will be interesting to see how the monsoon develops over the next several weeks and whether butterfly numbers begin to rebound. Here's hoping they do.

Without further ado, here are the official results of the 2026 Summer Sabino/Catalina Mtns. butterfly count:

     Swallowtails (Papilionidae)     
1    Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)    46
2    Two-Tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)    4
3    W. Giant Swallowtail (Papilio rumiko)    3
     Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)     
4    Checkered White  (Pontia protodice)    1
5    Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)    1
6    Orange Sulphur  (Colias eurytheme)    8
7    Southern Dogface  (Zerene cesonia)    10
8    Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)    80
9    Lyside Sulphur  (Kricogonia lyside)    318
10    Mexican Yellow  (Eurema mexicana)    14
11    Sleepy Orange  (Abaeis nicippe)    17
12    Dainty Sulphur  (Nathalis iole)    6
     Sulphur sp?    3
     Hairstreaks and Blues (Lycaenidae)     
13    'Siva' Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus siva)    1
14    Arizona Hairstreak  (Erora quaderna)    3
15    Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis)    1
16    Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)    7
17    Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)    11
18    'Echo' Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon echo)    280
     Blue sp?    8
     Metalmarks (Riodinidae)     
19    Nais Metalmark - (Apodemia nais)    17
     Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)     
20    American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)    4
21    Variegated Fritillary  (Euptoieta claudia)    4
22    Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)    4
23    Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas)    23
24    Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada)    20
25    Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)    8
26    Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)    11
     Tiny/Elada Checkerspot    10
27    Gray Buckeye (Junonia grisea)    2
28    Arizona Sister (Adelpha eulalia)    2
29    Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia)    8
30    Nabokov's Satyr (Cyllopsis pyracmon)    12
31    Queen (Danaus gilippus)    11
     Skippers (Hesperiidae)     
32    Dull Firetip (Pyrrhopyge araxes)    2
33    Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)    1
34    Desert Cloudywing (Achalarus casica)    2
35    Northern Cloudywing  (Thorybes pylades)    11
36    Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus)    17
37    Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos)    6
38    Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis)    2
39    Pacuvius Duskywing (Erynnis pacuvius)     24
40    Common Checkered-Skipper - (Pyrgus communis)    1
41    Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus)    1
42    Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)    4
43    Edwards' Skipperling  (Oarisma edwardsii)    1
44    Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca)    3
45    Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)    6
46    Taxiles Skipper  (Poanes taxiles)    29
47    Moon-marked Skipper (Atrytonopsis lunus)     2
48    Large Roadside-Skipper  (Amblyscirtes exoteria)    1
49    Bronze Roadside-Skipper  (Amblyscirtes aenus)    1
          Total Individuals:  1072

A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who came out this year and took part in this year’s count!

 

NABA Sabino Spring Count

April 10, 2026
Trip Butterfly Report:

Thank you to everyone who came out and participated in this year’s count! We had a total of 27 people in the field, divided into 14 groups, covering approximately 46.9 miles on foot.

In terms of overall numbers, we recorded a record high 68 species this year (67 species in 2025 & 2022), along with by far the highest number of individuals (15,255). Due to the record-breaking warm temperatures experienced over the winter, coupled with early-season rains, many species emerged earlier than usual this year which added to the excitement of possibly finding something new.

It’s worth noting that this year’s count took place approximately one week later than usual. Given the advanced emergence of many early-season species, it was not unexpected that we miss several species we typically encounter including the spring pierids: Spring White, Desert Marble, and Sara and Desert Orangetip, of which none were recorded.  We also missed Brown Elfin for only the second time on this count.

While we may have missed some early season stuff we did observe a few things that are missed by a week or two, such as Cestus Skipper and Bronze Roadside Skipper. In total we added 4 species to the list (Leda Ministreak, Mexican Metalmark, and the two noted above). The presence of these and abundance of others suggests that early emergence may continue as the season progresses.

The most exciting find, for the second year in a row(!), was a Bernardino Dotted Blue (Euphilotes bernardino). The first documented occurrence was during the 2025 Spring Count, and as far as I know this is only the second sighting in the Santa Catalinas. Congrats to you all! 

Butterflies found and counted:

Swallowtails (Papilionidae)                                                        

1          Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)                                   218

2          Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)                                    3

3          Two-Tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)                        36

4          W. Giant Swallowtail (Papilio rumiko)                                    1

            Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)                                     

5          Checkered White  (Pontia protodice)                                     406

6          Orange Sulphur  (Colias eurytheme)                                     11

7          Southern Dogface  (Zerene cesonia)                                     95

8          Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)                                     37

9          Mexican Yellow  (Eurema mexicana)                                    132

10         Sleepy Orange  (Abaeis nicippe)                                           53

11         Dainty Sulphur  (Nathalis iole)                                              102

            Sulphur sp.                                                                         5

            Phoebis sp?                                                                        1

            Hairstreaks and Blues (Lycaenidae)                             

12         Great Purple Hairstreak  (Atlides halesus)                             1

13         'Siva' Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus siva)                4

14         Gray Hairstreak  (Strymon melinus)                                      78

15         Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak  (Strymon istapa)                            1

16         Arizona Hairstreak  (Erora quaderna)                                    4

17         Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda)                                       8

18         Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)                                              12362

19         Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis)                               4

20         'Echo' Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon echo)                          196

21         Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)                                   31

22         Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola)                                          40

23         Acmon Blue  (Plebejus acmon texana)                                  6

24         Bernardino Dotted Blue (Euphilotes bernardino)                     1

            Metalmarks (Riodinidae)                                                 

25         Mexican Metalmark (Apodemia mejicanus)                            11

26         Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis)                                  2

            Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)                       

27         American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)                                 505

28         Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)                                            6

29         Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta cludia)                                   2

30         Fulvia Checkerspot (Chlosyne fulvia)                                    4

31         Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)                                        25

32         Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus)                         3

33         Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas)                                      7

34         Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada)                                        60

35         Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana)                                   157

36         Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)                                      41

37         Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)                                     2

38         Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)                                           3

39         Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)                                             6

40         American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)                                   6

41         Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)                                5

42         Arizona Sister (Adelpha eulalia)                                            11

43         Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia)                                      297

44         Nabokov's Satyr (Cyllopsis pyracmon)                                  4

45         Monarch (Danaus plexippus)                                                2

46         Queen (Danaus gilippus)                                                      34

            Skippers (Hesperiidae)                                                   

47         Short-tailed Skipper (Zestusa dorus)                                     5

48         Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)                              1

49         Desert Cloudywing (Achalarus casica)                                  2

50         Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus)                                           36

51         Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos)                       10

52         Arizona Powdered-Skipper (Systasea zampa)                       10

53         Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo)                                         1

54         Meridian Duskywing (Erynnis meridianus)                              1

55         Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis)                                     4

56         Pacuvius Duskywing (Erynnis pacuvius)                               39

57         Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis)                                 13

58         White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens)                       31

59         Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus)                          2

60         Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)                               2

61         Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca)                          29

62         Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)                                          1

63         Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska)                                   2

64         Cestus Skipper (Atrytonopsis cestus)                                   4

65         White-barred Skipper (Atrytonopsis pittacus)                         19

66         Sheep Skipper (Atrytonopsis edwardsii)                                7

67         Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus)                     3

68         Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala)                                            1

            Duskywing sp?  (Erynnis sp?)                                              3

            Totals                                                                               15,255

NABA Fall Santa Rita Mtns Count

September 28, 2025
Trip Butterfly Report:

Seventeen counters in 6 parties scoured the Santa Rita Mtns for butterflies on a nice, sunny day to be in the field! Unfortunately, the party planned for the high country called in sick at the last minute, so we didn't get coverage high up in the mountains so undoubtedly we missed missed finding a few species. Count numbers reflect the continuing severe drought in the area alnong with a late, less than average Monsoon Season. Three species that are new to the count are in BOLD print. Butterflies observed and counted:

  1. Pipevine Swallowtail                 Battus philenor  15
  2. Black Swallowtail                        Papilio polyxenes  2
  3. Western Giant Swallowtail      Papilio Rumiko  9
  4. Two-tailed Swallowtail             Papilio multicaudata  22
  5. Checkered White                       Pontia protodice  4
  6. Orange Sulphur                           Colias eurytheme  7
  7. Southern Dogface                      Colias cesonia  80
  8. Cloudless Sulphur                       Phoebis sennae  7
  9. Mexican Yellow                           Eurema Mexicana  9
  10. Tailed Orange                              Eurema proterpia  151
  11. Sleepy Orange                             Eurema nicippe  19
  12. Dainty Sulphur                             Nathalis iole  90
  13. Great Purple Hairstreak           Atlides halesus 1
  14. Marine Blue                                  Leptotes marina  70
  15. Ceraunus Blue                             Hemiargus Ceraunus  70
  16. Reakirt’s Blue                               Hemiargus isola 6
  17. ‘Echo’ Spring Azure                    Celastrina ladon 16
  18. Fatal Metalmark                         Calephelis nemesis  1
  19. Ares Metalmark                         Emesis ares  1
  20. Palmer's Metalmark                  Apodemia palmeri  25
  21. American Snout                          Libytheana carinenta  148
  22. Gulf Fritillary                                 Agraulis vanilla  2
  23. Variegated Fritillary                   Euptoieta claudia  18
  24. Bordered Patch                           Chlosyne lacinia  23
  25. Tiny Checkerspot                       Dymasia dymas  6
  26. Elada (AZ) Checkerspot           Texola elada  405
  27. Texan Crescent                           Phyciodes texana  1
  28. Vesta Crescent                            Phyciodes vesta  1
  29. Pearl Crescent                             Phyciodes tharos  2
  30. American Lady                             Vanessa virginiensis  5
  31. Painted Lady                                 Vanessa cardui  13
  32. ‘Dark’ Tropical Buckeye           J.genoveva nigrosuffusa  1
  33. Red-spotted Purple                   Limenitis arthemis astyanax 23
  34. ‘Arizona’ California Sister        Adelpha bredowii  16
  35. Hackberry Emperor                   Asterocampa celtis  12
  36. Empress Leilia                              Asterocampa leilia  62
  37. Tawny Emperor                           Asterocampa clyton  5
  38. Red-bordered Satyr                  Gyrocheilus patrobas  68
  39. Monarch                                        Danaus Plexippus  1
  40. Queen                                            Danaus gilippus  32
  41. Dull Firetip                                    Pyrrhopyge araxes  52
  42. Dorantes Longtail                       Urbanus Dorantes  10
  43. Desert Cloudywing                    Achalarus casica  2
  44. Northern Cloudywing               Thorybes pylades  1
  45. Acacia Skipper                             Cogia hippalus  4
  46. Golden-headed Scallopwing  Staphylus ceos  8
  47. Arizona Powdered-Skipper    Systasea zampa  1
  48. Mournful Duskywing                Erynnis tristis  1
  49. Funereal Duskywing                  Erynnis funeralis  16
  50. Common/White Checkered-Skipper        Pyrgus albis/communis  5
  51. Common Streaky-Skipper       Celotes nessus 1
  52. Common Sootywing                 Pholisora Catullus  1
  53. Orange Skipperling                    Copaeodes aurantiacus
  54. Arizona Giant-Skipper              Agathymus aryxna  2

Phoebus sp. 2

Pyrisitia/Abaeis sp. 80

Blue sp. 38

 

Total Individuals 2,136