Oracle Ridge (Catalina Mtns)

Date & Time: 
July 17, 2019 -
8:00am to 1:00pm
Meeting Place: 
Safeway/McDonald's parking lot at Catalina Highway and Tanque Verde roads.
Trip Leader: 
Cindy Bethard
Special Notes: 
The ceanothus is blooming, attracting many species of butterflies.

Please arrive at the meeting place a little early so we can arrange carpools to go up the mountain.

 

Type of terrain: Walking on a primitive, rocky trail. There will be some stepping up and down on and over large rocks. Rough in some areas, flat in others. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes! Long pants are recommended. We will spend the majority of our time walking on the trail away from our vehicles, so be prepared to carry lunch and enough water for a few hours.

 

Photo: Nais Metalmark (Apodemia nais)

Trip Butterfly Reports: 

Stops were made at the Bug Springs trailhead, at milepost 18 near Sollers Rd, and at the Oracle Ridge trailhead, the main goal of the trip. Skies were mostly cloudy, reducing the number of butterflies seen, but twenty species were identified.

  1. Pipevine Swallowtail                        Battus philenor
  2. Mexican Yellow                                 Eurema mexicana
  3. Dainty Sulphur                                   Nathalis iole
  4. Great Purple Hairstreak                   Atlides halesus
  5. Thicket Hairstreak                             Callophrys spinetorum
  6. Gray Hairstreak                                  Strymon melinus
  7. Marine Blue                                        Leptotes marina
  8.  ‘Echo’ Spring Azure                          Celastrina ladon
  9. Acmon Blue                                        Plebejus acmon texana
  10. Fatal Metalmark                                Calephelis nemesis
  11. Nais Metalmark                                 Apodemia nais
  12. American Lady                                   Vanessa virginiensis
  13. Painted Lady                                      Vanessa cardui
  14. Red Satyr                                             Megisto rubricata
  15. Silver-spotted Skipper                      Epargyreus clarus
  16. Pacuvius Duskywing                         Erynnis pacuvius
  17. Funereal Duskywing                         Erynnis funeralis
  18. Taxiles Skipper                                   Poanes taxiles
  19. Large Roadside-Skipper                   Amblyscirtes exoteria
  20. Bronze Roadside-Skipper                 Amblyscirtes aenus
Leader email: 
cindynik@hotmail.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.