RESCHEDULLED! Bill Adams Memorial Rabbitbrush Trip

Date & Time: 
November 10, 2019 -
8:45am to 2:00pm
Meeting Place: 
1. 8:45 AM at the South side of Fry’s parking lot at Houghton and Rita Road to carpool to Patagonia, or 2. 10:00 AM at the Butterfly Garden on McKeown Ave. between 3rd and 4th streets, across the street from the Red Mountain Foods.
Trip Leader: 
Larry Fellows and Mary Adams

Happily, this trip has been reschedulled!!!!

Bill was a dedicated butterflyer and committed SEABA member.  He and Mary, his spouse, led many SEABA field trips, the last of which was to the Harshaw Creek Rabbitbrush area in October 2016.  We will visit that locality on this trip, as well as others, depending on time and weather.  We’re pleased to lead this trip in Bill’s memory.

 

Type of terrain: Mostly level with some brushy areas and uneven rocky terrain in the creekbed. All roads are paved or improved gravel that are passable to passenger cars.

 

Photo: Boisduval's Yellow (Eurema boisduvaliana) © Larry Fellows

 

Trip Butterfly Reports: 

On a warm day that quickly became overcast, we briefly surveyed the Butterfly Garden and then spent a couple of hours at the Harshaw Creek rabbitbrush. After the rabbitbrush, a few participants surveyed the asters on Blue Heaven Road in Patagonia. 35 species were identified by the group:

 

  1. Checkered White                       Pontia                    protodice
  2. Cabbage White                          Pieris                      rapae
  3. Orange Sulphur                          Colias                     eurytheme
  4. Southern Dogface                     Colias                     cesonia
  5. Cloudless Sulphur                      Phoebis                  sennae
  6. Mexican Yellow                         Eurema                  mexicana
  7. Sleepy Orange                            Eurema                  nicippe
  8. Dainty Sulphur                            Nathalis                 iole
  9. Silver-banded Hairstreak         Chlorostrymon      simaethis
  10. Gray Hairstreak                          Strymon                 melinus
  11. Leda Ministreak                         Ministrymon         leda
  12. Western Pygmy-Blue                Brephidium           exile
  13. Marine Blue                                Leptotes                marina
  14. Ceraunus Blue                            Hemiargus            ceraunus
  15. Reakirt's Blue                             Hemiargus            isola
  16. Acmon Blue                                Plebejus                 acmon
  17. Fatal Metalmark                        Calephelis              nemesis
  18. American Snout                         Libytheana            carinenta
  19. Gulf Fritillary                               Agraulis                 vanillae
  20. Variegated Fritillary                  Euptoieta              claudia
  21. Tiny Checkerspot                       Dymasia                dymas
  22. Texan Crescent                          Phyciodes              texana
  23. Pearl Crescent                            Phyciodes              tharos  (in Patagonia after rabbitbrush - not seen by all)
  24. American Lady                           Vanessa                 virginiensis
  25. Painted Lady                               Vanessa                 cardui
  26. Common Buckeye                     Junonia                  coenia
  27. Tropical Buckeye                       Junonia                  genoveva
  28. Arizona Sister                             Adelpha                 eulalia
  29. Queen                                          Danaus                  gilippus
  30. 'White' Common Checkered-Skipper                    Pyrgus     communis albescens
  31. Desert Checkered-Skipper       Pyrgus                    philetas
  32. Clouded Skipper                         Lerema                  accius
  33. Orange Skipperling                    Copaeodes            aurantiacus
  34. Fiery Skipper                               Hylephila               phyleus
  35. Eufala Skipper    Lerodea eufala
Leader email: 
Larry Fellows @ rockpix@comcast.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.