Catalina Mystery Tour

Date & Time: 
May 12, 2017 - 12:00am
Meeting Place: 
To Be Determined
Trip Leader: 
Mary Klinkel
Special Notes: 
This field trip is limited to five participants and you must contact the field trip leader, Mary Klinkel, to participate on this trip.

We will Ping-Pong up the Catalina Highway making quick stops along the way to our main goal of finding Black Checkerspot.  Meeting time and place will be shared with the first five people to contact the leader and register for a spot on this trip.  Plan on 5-6 hours in the field with no stop for lunch (leader has to work later in afternoon).  Bring snacks, water, etc.

 

Black Checkerspot photo by Larry Fellows

Trip Butterfly Reports: 

This was the first warm day for several days in the higher elevations after a cold front brought rain, freezing temperatures and some snow.  Our goal of black checkerspot was not found, but we’ll have more opportunities over the next several months. Butterflies seen:

  1. Pipevine Swallowtail       Battus philenor
  2. Two-tailed Swallowtail   Papilio multicaudata
  3. Checkered White             Pontia protodice
  4. Orange Sulphur                 Colias eurytheme
  5. Southern Dogface           Colias cesonia
  6. Mexican Yellow                Eurema mexicana
  7. Sleepy Orange                  Eurema nicippe
  8. Dainty Sulphur                  Nathalis iole
  9. Gray Hairstreak                Strymon melinus
  10. Leda Ministreak                Ministrymon leda
  11. Marine Blue                       Leptotes marina
  12. Ceraunus Blue                   Hemiargus ceraunus
  13. Reakirt’s Blue                    Hemiargus isola
  14. ‘Echo’ Spring Azure          Celastrina ladon
  15. Acmon Blue                       Plebejus acmon texana
  16. Mormon Metalmark        Apodemia mormo
  17. Satyr Comma                    Polygonia satyrus
  18. Mourning Cloak               Nymphalis antiopa
  19. Common Buckeye            Junonia coenia
  20. ‘Arizona’ California Sister  Adelpha bredowii
  21. Empress Leilia                   Asterocampa leilia
  22. Queen                                 Danaus gilippus
  23. Silver-spotted Skipper     Epargyreus clarus
  24. Northern Cloudywing      Thorybes pylades
  25. Arizona Powdered-Skipper  Systasea zampa
  26. Hermit Skipper                  Grais stigmatica
  27. Mournful Duskywing       Erynnis tristis
  28. Pacuvius Duskywing        Erynnis pacuvius
  29. White Checkered-Skipper    Pyrgus albescens
  30. Orange Skipperling           Copaeodes aurantiacus
Leader email: 
Munchita@msn.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.