Meeting Place:
1. Fry’s parking lot on Houghton at Rita Road at 7:30 AM 2. Gathering Grounds Cafe in Patagonia at 8:30 AM
Join Fred as he scouts some of the areas which he will cover on the NABA Patagonia Count two days later. As you know, this NABA count is almost always in the top three counts for species, and is known for recording many of the uncommon skippers unique to SE AZ. Don’t worry if you have skipper-phobia, there are lots of other gaudy butterflies to be found!
Trip Butterfly Reports:
The day was sunny, hot, and humid. The group visited the Patagonia community Butterfly and Vegetable gardens, Red Mountain Road, the Harshaw Creek area, andfinished up at Paton's Hummingbird Haven. Species seen by the group:
- Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor
- Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata
- Cabbage White Pieris rapae
- Southern Dogface Colias cesonia
- Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae
- Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana
- Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe
- Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole
- Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile
- Marine Blue Leptotes marina
- Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus
- Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae
- Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia
- Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas
- Elada Checkerspot Texola elada
- Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos
- Painted Crescent Phyciodes picta
- Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
- Red Satyr Megisto rubricata
- Monarch Danaus plexippus
- Queen Danaus gilippus
- Golden-banded Skipper Autochton cellus
- Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades
- Drusius Cloudywing Thorybes drusius
- Acacia Skipper Cogia hippalus
- Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos
- 'White' Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgu communis albescens
- Many-spotted Skipperling Piruna cingo
- Clouded Skipper Lerema accius
- Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus
- Pahaska Skipper Hesperia pahaska
- Large Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes exoteria
- Texas Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes texanae
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.