NABA Sabino Canyon Spring Count

Date & Time: 
April 3, 2016 - 7:30am
Meeting Place: 
Sabino Canyon Visitor Center
Trip Leader: 
Mary Klinkle

The sixth annual NABA Spring Sabino Canyon/Santa Catalina Mtns butterfly count was held April 3, with 10 groups of butterfliers covering a range of habitats from Sonoran Desert lowland to mixed conifers, The weather was perfect with temperatures ranging from about 50 degrees to 80 degrees F. Winds were light. Although a wet El Nino winter was anticipated, we actually have had a very dry and warm winter, so many of our spring fliers were done for the year. A total of 61 species were found. Species that are new for this count are in bold.

Trip Butterfly Reports: 
  1. Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 145
  2. Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudatis 57
  3. Western Giant Swallowtail Papilio rumiko 3
  4. Checkered White Pontia protodice 34
  5. Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 7
  6. Southern Dogface Zerene cesonia 40
  7. Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 2
  8. Mexican Yellow Eurema Mexicana 92
  9. Sleepy Orange Abais nicippe 41
  10. Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 75
  11. Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus 4
  12. Siva Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva 28
  13. Thicket Hairstreak Callophrys spinetorum 1
  14. Brown Elfin Callophrys augustinus 3
  15. Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus 14
  16. AZ Hairstreak Strymon istapa 9
  17. Marine Blue Leptotes marina 59
  18. Echo Spring Azure Celastrina ladon echo 302
  19. Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus 7
  20. Reakirt's Blue Echinargus isola 6
  21. Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon texana 22
  22. Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis11
  23. Zela Metalmark Emesis zela 3
  24. American Snout Libytheana carinenta 22
  25. Fulvia Checkerspot Chlosyne fulvia 5
  26. Black Checkerspot Chlosyne cyneas 5
  27. Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 1
  28. Sagebrush Checkerspot Chlosyne acastus 10
  29. Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas 1
  30. Elada Checkerspot Texola elada 16
  31. Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta 3
  32. Texan Crescent Anthanassa texana 173
  33. Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 81
  34. Tropical Buckeye Junonia evarete 11
  35. Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa 1
  36. Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta 3
  37. American Lady Vanessa virginiensis 9
  38. Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis 11
  39. Viceroy Limenitis arthemis 2
  40. AZ Sister Adelpha eulalia 2
  41. Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia 55
  42. Nabokov's Satyr Cyllopsis pyracmon 2
  43. Queen Danaus gilippus 61
  44. Short-tailed Skipper Zestusa dorus 1
  45. Desert Cloudywing Achalarus casica 9
  46. Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 11
  47. AZ Powdered-skipper Systasea zampa 22
  48. Sleepy Duskywing Eyrnnis brizo 1
  49. Juvenal's Duskywing Erynnis juvenalis 2
  50. Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis 12
  51. Pacuvius Duskywing Erynnis pacuvius 10
  52. Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 12
  53. White Checkered-skipper Pyrgus albescens 45
  54. Erichson's White-skipper Heliopyrgus domicella 4
  55. Common Streaky-skipper Celotes nessus 7
  56. Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiaca 58
  57. Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus 19
  58. Pahaska Skipper Hesperia pahaska 11
  59. White-barred Skipper Atrytonopsis pittacus 35
  60. Violet-clouded Skipper Lerodea arabus 8
  61. Tropical Least-skipper Ancyloxypha arene 2

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.