Butterflies Seen
29 people participated in this year’s count, split up into 10 groups. The above average rainfall for the previous four months (Dec 2023-March 2024), combined with below average temps for each of those months has resulted in noticeably fewer butterflies at this time of year, even in the lower elevation (midtown Tucson). While a survey later in April may have resulted in more individuals and potentially more species, we would have missed the window for things that normally fly at this time. A major weather system that pushed through the area three days beforehand may have also resulted in the absence of a few species which were seen the week prior. The weather during the survey was nearly perfect (sunny and a high of 83degrees) and if we had 3-4 more similar days prior I suspect numbers would have been better all-around but when looking at the bigger picture it’s all quite interesting!
There was one new species added to the count, Theona Checkerspot, which has never been recorded on the spring or summer counts. This species was presumably only known from Peppersauce Canyon, and may have expanded its range after the Bighorn Fire in 2020. iNaturalist records seem to support this with 1 record from the front range in 2020 followed by numerous records in 2022 & 2023. The host plant for this species, indian paintbrush (Castilleja sp.), is a fire adapted species that readily reseeds after these events. It will be interesting to see whether this species continues to maintain the range extension or contracts over time.
Butterflies seen and counted:
Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) 10
Two-Tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) 26
W. Giant Swallowtail (Papilio rumiko) 7
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
Checkered White (Pontia protodice) 13
Spring White (Pontia sisymbrii) 14
'Desert' Pearly Marble (Euchloe hyantis lotta) 41
'Pima' Desert Orangetip (Anthocharis cethura pima) 11
'SW' Sara Orangetip (Anthocharis sara thoosa) 25
Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia) 11
Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) 6
Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) 88
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) 5
Hairstreaks and Blues (Lycaenidae)
Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus) 8
Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus) 21
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) 3
Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) 141
Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis) 2
'Echo' Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon echo) 47
Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola) 2
Metalmarks (Riodinidae)
Fatal Metalmark - (Calephelis nemesis) 1
Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) 4
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) 6
Theona Checkerspot (Chlosyne theona) 5
Fulvia Checkerspot (Chlosyne fulvia) 8
Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus) 57
Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) 20
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) 1
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 12
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) 27
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) 1
Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia) 102
Queen (Danaus gilippus) 1
Skippers (Hesperiidae)
Arizona Powdered-Skipper (Systasea zampa) 11
Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo) 37
Meridian Duskywing (Erynnis meridianus) 2
Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis) 6
Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) 6
Desert Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus philetas) 1
Common Streaky-Skipper Celotes nessus 3
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca) 9
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) 16
Species Total 41
Total Individuals 840
There were 8 groups and 19 people participating. We all worked hard to find butterflies this year, the hottest year ever recorded. It's the compiler's guess that the heat kept a lot of butterflies from eclosing and possibly killed some of them. She did notice more butterflies showing up as the weather is cooling, and it's quite possible that our numbers would have been lower if we had held the count one week earlier. Butterflies found and counted:
- Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 8
- Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 1
- Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 4
- Southern Dogface Colias cesonia 1
- Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 24
- Lyside Sulphur Kricogonia lyside 2
- Mexican Yellow Eurema Mexicana 12
- Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe 5
- Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 2
- Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus 8
- Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile 2
- Marine Blue Leptotes marina 28
- Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus 29
- Reakirt’s Blue Hemiargus isola 19
- ‘Echo’ Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 21
- Arizona Metalmark Calephelis arizonensis 11
- Palmer's Metalmark Apodemia palmeri 46
- American Snout Libytheana carinenta 6
- Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 4
- Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 103
- Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 2
- Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax 15
- ‘Arizona’ California Sister Adelpha bredowii 69
- Hackberry Emperor Asterocampa celtis 4
- Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia 14
- Tawny Emperor Asterocampa clyton 4
- Nabokov's Satyr Cyllopsis pyracmon 55
- Red Satyr Megisto rubricata 7
- Red-bordered Satyr Gyrocheilus patrobas 71
- Monarch Danaus plexippus 2
- Queen Danaus gilippus 7
- Arizona Powdered-Skipper Systasea zampa 1
- Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis 2
- Pacuvius Duskywing Erynnis pacuvius 1 (new for the count)
- Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 15
- White/Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus albescens/communis 1
- Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus 9
- Pahaska Skipper Hesperia Pahaska 2
- Arizona Giant-Skipper Agathymus aryxna 2
19 observers in 6 parties found 83 species, which was the highest count for the nation in 2023. Butterflies seen and recorded:
- Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 7
- Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes 3
- Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 27
- Checkered White Pontia protodice 2
- Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 54
- Southern Dogface Colias cesonia 11
- Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 1
- Mexican Yellow Eurema Mexicana 10
- Tailed Orange Eurema proterpia 2
- Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe 10
- Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 2
- Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus 1
- Thicket Hairstreak Callophrys spinetorum 3
- Siva' Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva 22
- Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus 5
- Leda Ministreak Ministrymon leda 4
- Arizona Hairstreak Erora quaderna 3
- Marine Blue Leptotes marina 44
- Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus 14
- Central Dotted Blue (Euphilotes centralis centralis) 1 (new for count)
- Reakirt’s Blue Hemiargus isola 25
- ‘Echo’ Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 30
- Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon texana 6
- Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis 2
- Ares Metalmark Emesis ares 2
- Mormon Metalmark Apodemia mormo 2
- Nais Metalmark Apodemia nais 16
- American Snout Libytheana carinenta 1
- Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia 13
- Theona Checkerspot Chlosyne Theona 1
- Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 120
- Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas 1
- Elada Checkerspot Texola elada 7
- Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta 10
- Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus 1
- Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa 1
- American Lady Vanessa virginiensis 11
- Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 1370
- Red Admiral Vanessa Atalanta 3
- Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 15
- Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax 14
- Weidemeyer's Admiral Limenitis weidemeyerii 1
- ‘Arizona’ California Sister Adelpha bredowii 30
- Hackberry Emperor Asterocampa celtis 3
- Nabokov's Satyr Cyllopsis pyracmon 3
- Canyonland Satyr Cyllopsis pertepida 6
- Red Satyr Megisto rubricata 65
- Pine Satyr Paramacera allyni 6
- Monarch Danaus plexippus 14
- Queen Danaus gilippus 15
- Dull Firetip Pyrrhopyge araxes 21
- Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus 30
- White-striped Longtail Chioides catillus 1
- Golden-banded Skipper Autochton cellus 64
- Desert Cloudywing Achalarus casica 26
- Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades 1179
- Drusius Cloudywing Thorybes drusius 64
- Acacia Skipper Cogia hippalus 29
- Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 1
- Arizona Powdered-Skipper Systasea zampa 4
- ‘Arizona’ Juvenal's Duskywing Erynnis juvenalis clitus 1
- Meridian Duskywing Erynnis meridianus 6
- Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis 16
- Pacuvius Duskywing Erynnis pacuvius 34
- Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 2
- Common/White Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis/albescens 6
- Desert Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus philetas 2
- Common Sootywing Pholisora Catullus 11
- Four-spotted Skipperling Piruna polingi 22
- Edward's Skipperling Oarisma edwardsii 6
- Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus 25
- Pahaska Skipper Hesperia Pahaska 1
- Snow's Skipper Paratrytone snowi 2
- Taxiles Skipper Poanes taxiles 98
- Large Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes exoteria 14
- Cassus Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes cassus 37
- Bronze Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes aenus 76
- Texas Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes texanae 3
- Toltec Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes tolteca 1
- Nysa Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes nysa 1
- Dotted Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes eos 3
- Orange-headed Roadsd-Sk Amblyscirtes phylace 1
- Orange-edged Roadsd-Sk Ambyscirtes fimbriate 18
Totals: 83 species, 3862 individuals
Species counted:
- Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 18
- Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes 2
- Western Giant Swallowtail Papilio Rumiko 1
- Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 43
- Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 3
- Southern Dogface Colias cesonia 9
- Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 92
- Mexican Yellow Eurema Mexicana 15
- Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe 5
- Colorado Hairstreak Hypaurotis crysalus 5
- Siva' Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva 20
- Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus 2
- Leda Ministreak Ministrymon leda 5
- Marine Blue Leptotes marina 19
- Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus 20
- Reakirt’s Blue Hemiargus isola 6
- ‘Echo’ Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 18
- Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis 1
- Arizona Metalmark Calephelis arizonensis 2
- Zela Metalmark Emesis zela 2
- Ares Metalmark Emesis ares 1
- American Snout Libytheana carinenta 2
- Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanilla 2
- Theona Checkerspot Chlosyne Theona 1
- Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 42
- Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas 6
- Elada Checkerspot Texola elada 3
- Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana 1
- American Lady Vanessa virginiensis 2
- Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 85
- West Coast Lady Vanessa Annabella 1
- Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 2
- Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax 12
- ‘Arizona’ California Sister Adelpha bredowii 31
- Hackberry Emperor Asterocampa celtis 3
- Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia 1
- Nabokov's Satyr Cyllopsis pyracmon 2
- Red Satyr Megisto rubricata 121
- Monarch Danaus plexippus 1
- Queen Danaus gilippus 5
- Dull Firetip Pyrrhopyge araxes 9
- Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus 1
- Arizona Skipper Codatractus arizonensis 41
- Golden-banded Skipper Autochton cellus 4
- Desert Cloudywing Achalarus casica 2
- Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades 986
- Drusius Cloudywing Thorybes drusius 53
- Acacia Skipper Cogia hippalus 129
- Gold-costa Skipper Cogia caicus 1
- Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 26
- Arizona Powdered-Skipper Systasea zampa 4
- ‘Arizona’ Juvenal's Duskywing Erynnis juvenalis clitus 1
- Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis 1
- Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 1
- Common/White Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis/albescens 4
- Common Streaky-Skipper Celotes nessus 2
- Common Sootywing Pholisora Catullus 17
- Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus 28
- Pahaska Skipper Hesperia Pahaska 1
- Taxiles Skipper Poanes taxiles 35
- Moon-marked Skipper Atrytonopsis lunus 1
- Large Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes exoteria 20
- Cassus Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes cassus 43
- Bronze Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes aenus 156
- Elissa Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes elissa 10
- Texas Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes texanae 3
- Slaty Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes nereus 1
- Nysa Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes nysa 8
- Dotted Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes eos 1
Thanks to all for coming out and participating in this year’s count! The high temps made it one of the more challenging days in the field but you all did outstanding. We likely recorded some of the fewest numbers ever at the lower elevations sites so the shift to cover more ground on top definitely paid off. We found a total of 59 species this year and had record number of at least 4 species: ‘Echo’ Spring Azure, Painted Lady (primarily at Ceanothus fendleri), Taxiles Skipper, and Cassus Roadside Skipper, which were undoubtedly a result of our extra efforts on top. New for the summer count was a White-striped Longtail.
Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
1 Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) 58
2 Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) 2
3 Two-Tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) 19
4 W. Giant Swallowtail (Papilio rumiko) 1
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
5 Checkered White (Pontia protodice) 2
6 Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) 36
7 Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia) 17
8 Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) 2
9 Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) 33
10 Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) 1
11 Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) 8
Sulphur sp.? 2
Hairstreaks and Blues (Lycaenidae)
12 Colorado Hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus) 7
13 Thicket Hairstreak (Callophrys spinetorum) 2
14 Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) 10
15 Arizona Hairstreak (Erora quaderna) 28
16 Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) 51
17 Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) 2
18 Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola) 6
19 'Echo' Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon echo) 391
20 Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon texana) 4
Blue sp.? 36
Metalmarks (Riodinidae)
21 Arizona Metalmark (Calephelis arizonensis) 1
22 Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis) 1
23 Nais Metalmark (Apodemia nais) 24
Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
24 Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) 8
25 Black Checkerspot (Chlosyne cyneas) 1
26 Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana) 1
27 Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta) 1
28 American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) 10
29 Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) 1,067
30 Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 1
31 Gray Buckeye (Junonia grisea) 9
32 Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) 3
33 Arizona Sister (Adelpha eulalia) 7
34 Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia) 3
35 Nabokov's Satyr (Cyllopsis pyracmon) 11
36 Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata) 1
37 Monarch (Danaus plexippus) 2
38 Queen (Danaus gilippus) 14
Skippers (Hesperiidae)
39 Dull Firetip (Pyrrhopyge araxes) 6
40 Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) 8
41 White-striped Longtail (Chioides albofasciatus) 1
42 Golden-banded Skipper (Autochton cellus) 1
43 Desert Cloudywing (Achalarus casica) 9
44 Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) 22
45 Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus) 42
46 Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos) 2
47 Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis) 6
48 Pacuvius Duskywing (Erynnis pacuvius) 75
49 Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) 5
50 White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens) 2
51 White/Common Checkered-Skipper - (Pyrgus sp?) 8
52 Northern White Skipper (Heliopetes erictorum) 1
53 Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus) 4
54 Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca) 3
55 Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) 7
56 Taxiles Skipper (Poanes taxiles) 136
57 Large Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes exoteria) 1
58 Cassus Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes cassus) 30
59 Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus) 2
60 Nysa Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes nysa) 1
29 Observers in 13 parties identified 61 species and 969 individual butterflies.
Species in bold print were new for the count. Here are the results:
- Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 121
- Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 24
- Spring White Pontia sisymbria 13
- Checkered White Pontia protodice 20
- ‘Desert’ Pearly Marble Euchloe hyantis lotta 18
- ‘Pima’ Desert Orangetip Anthocharis cethura pima 3
- Sara Orangetip Anthocharis sara 9
- Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 3
- Southern Dogface Colias cesonia 33
- Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 1
- Mexican Yellow Eurema Mexicana 4
- Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe 26
- Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 109
- Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus 2
- Xami Hairstreak Callophrys xami 1
- Siva' Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva 5
- Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus 16
- Arizona Hairstreak Erora quaderna 12
- Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile 2
- Marine Blue Leptotes marina 22
- Reakirt’s Blue Hemiargus isola 1
- ‘Echo’ Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 82
- Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon texana 7
- Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis 9
- American Snout Libytheana carinenta 5
- Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanilla 1
- Fulvia Checkerspot Chlosyne fulvia 9
- Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 17
- Sagebrush Checkerspot Chlosyne acastus 21
- Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas 16
- Elada Checkerspot Texola elada 4
- Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana 98
- Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta 1
- Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus 1
- Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa 4
- Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 18
- Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta 3
- Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 24
- ‘Dark’ Tropical Buckeye J.genoveva nigrosuffusa 1
- Tropical Leafwing Anaea aidea 1
- Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia 28
- Queen Danaus gilippus 2
- Desert Cloudywing Achalarus casica 1
- Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 8
- Arizona Powdered-Skipper Systasea zampa 18
- Sleepy Duskywing Erynnis brizo 17
- Meridian Duskywing Erynnis meridianus 6
- Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis 7
- Pacuvius Duskywing Erynnis pacuvius 1
- Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 12
- Common/White Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis/albescens 37
- Desert Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus philetas 11
- Erichson's White-Skipper Heliopyrgus domicella 1
- Common Streaky-Skipper Celotes nessus 7
- Tropical Least Skipper Ancyloxypha arene 4
- Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus 25
- Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus 10
- Pahaska Skipper Hesperia pahaska 2
- White-barred Skipper Atrytonopsis Pittacus 2
- Eufala Skipper Lerodea eufala 1
- Violet-clouded Skipper Lerodea arabus 2