Pop-up Trip: Montosa Canyon

Date & Time: 
October 13, 2024 -
8:30am to 12:00pm
Meeting Place: 
Whipple Observatory Picnic Area
Trip Leader: 
Mary Klinkel

 

This was another in a series of "Pop-Up" trips led by Mary Klinkel, which are usually announced with only 1-3 days short notice. Email Mary Klinkel at grizzledelfin@gmail.com if you want to be on her invite list for her "Pop-Up" trips.

 

Trip Butterfly Reports: 

It was a hot and sunny day on the Montosa Canyon road. The desert broom and turpentine bushes are just now beginning to bloom. However, there was still abundant nectar from a small, yellow composite (Heliomeris longifolia – Longleaf False Goldeneye ?) on the roadside. The group found and identified 49 species:

  1. Pipevine Swallowtail                            Battus                     philenor
  2. Checkered White                                   Pontia                     protodice
  3. Orange Sulphur                                      Colias                      eurytheme
  4. Southern Dogface                                  Colias                      cesonia
  5. Cloudless Sulphur                                 Phoebis                  sennae
  6. Large Orange Sulphur                          Phoebis                  agarithe
  7. Boisduval's Yellow                                 Eurema                  boisduvaliana
  8. Mexican Yellow                                       Eurema                  mexicana
  9. Tailed Orange                                          Eurema                  proterpia
  10. Sleepy Orange                                        Eurema                  nicippe
  11. Dainty Sulphur                                       Nathalis                 iole
  12. Gray Hairstreak                                      Strymon                 melinus
  13. Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak                    Strymon                 columella
  14. Leda Ministreak                                     Ministrymon        leda
  15. Western Pygmy-Blue                           Brephidium           exile
  16. Marine Blue                                             Leptotes                 marina
  17. Ceraunus Blue                                         Hemiargus            ceraunus
  18. Reakirt's Blue                                          Hemiargus            isola
  19. 'Echo' Spring Azure                               Celastrina              ladon echo
  20. Acmon Blue                                             Plebejus                 acmon
  21. Fatal Metalmark                                    Calephelis              nemesis
  22. Arizona Metalmark                               Calephelis              arizonensis
  23. Sonoran Metalmark                             Apodemia             mejicanus
  24. Palmer's Metalmark                             Apodemia             palmeri
  25. American Snout                                     Libytheana           carinenta
  26. Gulf Fritillary                                            Agraulis                 vanillae
  27. Variegated Fritillary                               Euptoieta              claudia
  28. Bordered Patch                                      Chlosyne                lacinia
  29. Texan Crescent                                       Phyciodes              texana
  30. American Lady                                        Vanessa                 virginiensis
  31. Painted Lady                                            Vanessa                 cardui
  32. Red Admiral                                             Vanessa                 atalanta
  33. Common Buckeye                                 Junonia                  coenia
  34. Red-spotted Purple                               Limenitis                arthemis astyanax
  35. Arizona Sister                                          Adelpha                 eulalia
  36. Hackberry Emperor                              Asterocampa       celtis
  37. Empress Leilia                                         Asterocampa       leilia
  38. Tawny Emperor                                      Asterocampa       clyton
  39. Queen                                                        Danaus                  gilippus
  40. Arizona Powdered-Skipper                Systasea                zampa
  41. Funereal Duskywing                             Erynnis                   funeralis
  42. 'White'/Common Checkered-Skipper     Pyrgus           albescens/communis
  43. Desert Checkered-Skipper                 Pyrgus                    philetas
  44. Orange Skipperling                               Copaeodes           aurantiacus
  45. Pahaska Skipper                                     Hesperia                pahaska
  46. Eufala Skipper                                         Lerodea                  eufala
  47. Violet-clouded Skipper                        Lerodea                  arabus
  48. Arizona Giant-Skipper                          Agathymus           aryxna
  49. Poling's Giant-Skipper                         Agathymus           polingi

 

photo: Arizona Giant Skipper (Agathymus aryxna) © Gerry Wolfe

 

Leader email: 
grizzledelfin@gmail.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.