05-15-15 Butterfly Field Note

05-15-15 Butterfly Field Note

May 15, 2015

Jeffrey Pippen's butterfly field note details butterflies, new transcects, a tiger beetle, and four species not seen on the ranch before.

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Butterfly Field Note New Species, Transects, Butterflies, and a Tiger Beetle Jeffrey S. Pippen 2 May 2015

Warm spring weather brought forth butterfly activity in April. I documented three new species for MPG properties including a Compton Tortoiseshell at MPG North (above two photos) and a California Tortoiseshell on Mt. Baldy (bottom).

This Desert Marble (Euchloe lotta) was the other new species for MPG. Some authorities and field guides lump this taxon with the Pearly Marble (Euchloe hyantis). I collected research specimens to send to collaborators working on the systematics of this group.

Established last season, I continued weekly Pollard Transect butterfly surveys in 3 draws. Here are the April data from the Woodchuck Creek transect. Butterfly species diversity and abundance increase with warm weather.

I established several new Pollard Transects in April, including two in high elevation grassland/meadow habitats: S. Baldy Ridge, and Baldy Summit. The Baldy Summit transect includes the fall upper raptor observation and banding sites.

Some butterfly species, including Moss’ Elfins and Sheridan’s Hairstreaks, only occur at the higher elevation sites. Here are the late April transect data from Baldy Summit and S. Baldy Ridge.

Crescents emerged along Woodchuck Creek in April. Pale Crescents (below) show a wide black square along the forewing trailing edge, whereas Mylitta Crescents (above) sport a wavy black line at that position.

A Sara Orangetip flashes its namesake wings on a log. Below, this Silvery Blue (below) rests among rocks.

A Spring White (above) nectars on a rockcress. Rockcresses also serve as caterpillar food plants for Spring Whites. Below, a Two-tailed Swallowtail takes nectar from arrowleaf balsamroot along Woodchuck Creek.

Boreal Long-lipped Tiger Beetles occur on open-ground patches from the floodplain to Mt. Baldy. These carnivorous beetles vary in color from brown to green and may or may not have wavy white markings on their elytra. Elytra are the modified, hardened forewings of beetles that protect the bulk of their abdomens.

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05-15-15 Butterfly Field Note

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