“Bountiful Baccharis” – Harshaw Creek Road

Date & Time: 
August 19, 2018 -
8:30am to 2:00pm
Meeting Place: 
8:30AM at the Patagonia Butterfly Garden across the street from Red Mountain Foods at 347 McKeown Ave, Patagonia.
Trip Leader: 
Gerry & Vicki Wolfe

 

Although it has been dry so far in the area this year, the Seep Willows (Bacchris salicifolia) should in full bloom and loaded with butterflies! We will visit the seep willows in the creek bed along Harshaw Creek Road and end our day at the two Patagonia gardens. Join us for a day filled with butterflies so intent on nectaring that you can photograph them with a bad cell phone!

 

Type of terrain: Mostly level with some brushy areas and uneven rocky terrain in the creekbed. All roads are passable to passenger cars.

 

Photo: Tiny & Elada Checkerspots (Dymasia dymas & Texola elada) on Baccharis glutinosa

 

Trip Butterfly Reports: 

We had a fantastic hot and sunny day butterflying in the gardens in Patagonia and along Harshaw Creek. A total of 51 species were seen and identified by the group, most of which were in small numbers or single individuals. The only species in great abundance all day was Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae). Although not everyone saw every species, everyone saw almost every species. Species seen and identified:

  1. Pipevine Swallowtail                        Battus                 philenor
  2. Western Giant Swallowtail             Papilio                 rumiko
  3. Cabbage White                                  Pieris                   rapae
  4. Orange Sulphur                                  Colias                   eurytheme
  5. Southern Dogface                            Colias                  cesonia
  6. Cloudless Sulphur                              Phoebis               sennae
  7. Large Orange Sulphur (f)                    Phoebis               agarithe
  8. Lyside Sulphur                                    Kricogonia          lyside
  9. Barred Yellow                                    Eurema               daira
  10. Boisduval's Yellow                            Eurema               boisduvaliana
  11. Mexican Yellow                                 Eurema               mexicana
  12. Tailed Orange                                    Eurema               proterpia
  13. Mimosa Yellow                                  Eurema               nise
  14. Sleepy Orange                                   Eurema               nicippe
  15. Dainty Sulphur                                   Nathalis              iole
  16. Gray Hairstreak                                 Strymon              melinus
  17. Marine Blue                                       Leptotes             marina
  18. Ceraunus Blue                                   Hemiargus          ceraunus
  19. Reakirt's Blue                                     Hemiargus          isola
  20. Fatal Metalmark                                Calephelis           nemesis
  21. Arizona Metalmark                           Calephelis           arizonensis
  22. Zela Metalmark                                 Emesis                 zela
  23. Palmer's Metalmark                         Apodemia           palmeri
  24. American Snout                                 Libytheana         carinenta
  25. Gulf Fritillary                                      Agraulis               vanillae
  26. Variegated Fritillary                          Euptoieta            claudia
  27. Bordered Patch                                 Chlosyne             lacinia
  28. Tiny Checkerspot                              Dymasia              dymas
  29. Elada Checkerspot                            Texola                 elada
  30. Pearl Crescent                                   Phyciodes           tharos
  31. Painted Crescent                               Phyciodes           picta
  32. Tropical Buckeye                               Junonia               genoveva
  33. Red-spotted Purple                          Limenitis             arthemis astyanax
  34. Hackberry Emperor                          Asterocampa     celtis
  35. Tawny Emperor                                 Asterocampa     clyton
  36. Queen                                                  Danaus                gilippus
  37. Dull Firetip                                          Pyrrhopyge         araxes
  38. Northern Cloudywing                      Thorybes             pylades
  39. Acacia Skipper                                    Cogia                   hippalus
  40. Golden-headed Scallopwing          Staphylus            ceos
  41. Mournful Duskywing                        Erynnis                tristis
  42. Funereal Duskywing                         Erynnis                funeralis
  43. 'White' Common Checkered-Skipper  Pyrgus  communis albescens
  44. Desert Checkered-Skipper              Pyrgus                 philetas
  45. Many-spotted Skipperling               Piruna                  cingo
  46. Clouded Skipper                                Lerema               accius
  47. Orange Skipperling                           Copaeodes         aurantiacus
  48. Fiery Skipper                                      Hylephila            phyleus
  49. Pahaska Skipper                                Hesperia             pahaska
  50. Elissa Roadside-Skipper                   Amblyscirtes      elissa
  51. Dotted Roadside-Skipper                Amblyscirtes      eos

Also seen on some of the Seep Willow (Baccharis glutinosa) in large numbers was a species of Soldier Beetle (Caliognathus profundus).

Leader email: 
seaba_publicity@yahoo.com

General Information

Beginners are welcome on all field trips! Experienced members will share their butterfly knowledge and expertise with all field trip participants. Children accompanied by a responsible adult are welcome on SEABA field trips. A donation of $5 per person to benefit SEABA will be appreciated. Carpooling from the meeting place is encouraged and it is kind to share gas expenses. If high clearance vehicles are required for a trip, it will be noted in individual trip descriptions. Dress for the field with sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Bring your own water, snacks, and lunch. Close-focusing binoculars, cameras, and field guides will be helpful aids for butterfly observation and identification. Trips usually end by mid-afternoon unless noted differently in individual trip descriptions.

Please be aware that:

1. Collecting or netting is NOT allowed on SEABA field trips.

2. Pets, with the exception of service animals, are NOT allowed on SEABA field trips.

3. All field trip participants are required to sign SEABA's Release and Assumption of Risk form at the beginning of the trip. The form may be viewed at SEABA Release.

4. Please arrive a few minutes prior to the meeting time posted for trips to facilitate paperwork and introductions to other trip participants.

5. Field trips may be cancelled or rescheduled on short notice due to changing weather or road conditions. Please check the website for updates prior to the Field Trip.

 

Our Southeastern Arizona Butterfly Checklist can be downloaded here. Please note that the SEABA checklist is copyrighted.

Local NABA Butterfly Counts are listed at NABA Counts

Field trips organized by the Central Arizona Butterfly Association are listed at their website: CAzBA.