| Utopia Butterfly List |
|
The Butterflies of Utopia Utopia area Butterfly list ~ November '03 to June '09 ~ Master List of Mitch Heindel's sightings, photos and NCR's. Utopia Area is: within 4 air miles of Utopia, Uvalde, Co., TX. In the "canyonlands" on the southern edge of Edwards Plateau. Latilong 99 x 29, elevation at town is ca. 1350'. The town and to the south is in Uvalde County, and north of town, up-valley, is Bandera Co.. This creates a recording nightmare, as everything sort of has to be found twice therefore in the Sabinal Valley, on both sides of an arbitrary meaningless political line. This is why "biogeographic" areas are the best measure for things biological. 99% of this list is from less than 10 sq. miles, and probably 96% or more is from one single square mile around Utopia. Year-round observation is a quite different method of gathering data from the traditional netting study techniques away from ones local area when only visited occasionally. You have to carry a camera to prove anything unusual, and a net just in case. :) Methodology is also quite different in e.g., checking out a 1000 sq. ft. butterfly garden three or four times a week (at the Utopia Library), all fall, as well as knowing and checking every local lantana patch or puddle spot regularly. (Johnny's lantana is best) :) In less than 3 years I have seen 94 species of butterflies at the Utopia Library Butterfly Garden alone. Abbreviations used: photographed = ph.; Bandera Co. = BanCo; Uvalde Co. = UvCo; New County Record (per CB/TLS) = NCR ; v. = voucher specimen retained; Hypo: = hypothetical (sighting) |
|
Swallowtails ~ Papilionidae Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) (ph.) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) (ph.) Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) (ph.) (+ black form female E. Tiger is common locally) Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudatus) (ph.) Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) (ph.) Ornythion Swallowtail (Papilio ornythion)(ph.UvCo (2nd?)) Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) (ph.) Ruby-spotted Swallowtail (Papilio anchisiades) (ph.UvCo NCR) 8 species ~ (all ph.) (1 NCR) (+1 form) Whites, Sulphurs, Yellows, Oranges, etc., ~ Pieridae Falcate Orangetip (Anthocaris midea) (ph.- BanCo NCR) Checkered White (Pontia protodice)(ph.) Great Southern White (Ascia monuste) (ph. UvCo, seen BanCo) Giant White (Ganyra josephina)(ph.- UvCo NCR) Orange Sulphur (Alfalfa) (Colias eurytheme) (ph.) Southern Dogface (Zerene (Colias) cesonia) (ph.) Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside)(ph.) White Angled-Sulphur (Anteos clorinde)(ph.UvCo and BanCo) Yellow Angled-Sulphur (Anteos maerula) seen only both counties Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) (ph.) (+marcellina) Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe) (ph.) Orange-barred Sulphur (Phoebis philea) (UvCo ph.) and - (seen BanCo-NCR) Little Yellow (Eurema lisa) (ph.) Mimosa Yellow (Eurema nise) (ph.) Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) (ph.- BanCo NCR) (*+ winter form E.mexicana - small and all yellow (ph./v.) Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) (ph.) Tailed Orange (Eurema proterpia) (ph. both Co.s) Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) (ph.) * Hypo: Statira Sulphur (Aphrissa statira) seen UvCo'07 * Hypo: Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) 2 seen UvCo 18 species: (17 ph.) (4 NCR) (*+ 2 hypothetical)(+2 forms) Gossamer-wings - Lycaenidae ~ Hairstreaks Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus) (ph.) White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) (ph.) Dusky-blue Groundstreak (Calycopis isobeon)(ph.- BanCo NCR) Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) (ph.) Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon istapa) (ph.- BanCo NCR) Henric's Elfin (Callophrys Southern (Oak) Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius)(ph.) "Olive" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys *"Siva" Juniper Hairstreak (C *"Nelson's" Hairstreak (same as above - C. Xami Hairstreak (Callophrys xami) (UvCo photos lost on a floppy drive meltdown!) Clytie Ministreak (Ministrymon clytie) seen well June 24, 2009 *Hypo: Lacey's Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon alea) 2 sightings *Hypo: Gray Ministreak (Ministrymon azia) 2 sightings 10 sps.: (8ph.) (2NCR) (2*”forms”)(*+2 hypotheticals) ~ Blues Reakirt's Blue (Hemiargus isola) (ph.) Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) (ph.- BanCo NCR) Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) (ph.) Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius) (ph.) Eastern ("Texas"/texana) Tailed-Blue - (Cupido (Everes) amyntula texana) (ph.) Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis)(ph.UvCo) *Hypo: Cyna Blue (Zizula cyna) 2 sightings 6 species: (all ph.) (1NCR) (*+1 Hypothetical) 15 species Lycaenids: (14 ph.) (3 NCR) (*+4 hypos) (2 forms) Metalmarks ~ Riodinidae Rawson's Metalmark (Calephelis rawsoni) (ph./v.UvCo) Rounded Metalmark (Calephelis perditalis) (ph.- BanCo NCR) Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis) (ph.) 3 species Metalmarks (all ph.) (1 NCR) Brushfoots ~ Nymphalidae American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) (ph.)(+few v. on grill) Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)(ph.UvCo)(BanCo NCR) Julia Longwing (Dryas julia) (ph. UvCo) Mexican Silverspot (Dione moneta) seen 3 in UvCo Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) (ph.) Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)(ph.) Mexican Fritillary (Euptoieta hegesia) (ph.UvCo) Theona Checkerspot (Chlosyne theona) (ph.) Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia) (ph.) Crimson Patch (Chlosyne janais)(ph.) Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis)(ph.) Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada) (ph.- BanCo NCR) Vesta Crescent (Phyciodes vesta) (ph.- BanCo NCR) Texan Crescent (Phyciodes texana) (ph.) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) (ph.) Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon) (ph.) Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) (ph.) Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) (ph.) Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) (ph.) American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) (ph.) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) (ph.) Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) (ph.) Tropical (Dark) Buckeye (Junonia evarate) (ph.UvCo) Common Mestra (Mestra amymone) (ph.) Malachite (Siproeta stelenes)(ph.UvCo)(seen in BanCo) Red Rim (Biblis hyperia) seen few (ph.UvCo - seen BanCo-NCR) Ruddy Daggerwing (Marpesia petreus) (ph. BanCo-NCR, and, ph. 2nd UvCo - both fall '08) Many-banded Daggerwing (Marpesia chiron)**by others ph. at Lost Maples Blue-eyed Sailor (Dynamine dyonis) (ph.- BanCo NCR) Arizona Sister (Adelpha eulalia) (ph.) Spot-celled Sister (Adelpha basiloides)(ph.- UvCo NCR) Band-celled Sister (Adelpha fessonia) 2 UvCo sightings Question Mark (Polygonus interrogationis) (ph.) Eastern Comma (Polygonus comma) seen once in UvCo. Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) (ph.BanCo-seenUvCo) Goatweed Leafwing (Anaea andria) (ph.- BanCo NCR) Tropical Leafwing (Anaea aidea) (ph. UvCo)(seen BanCo-NCR) White Peacock (Anartia jatrophe)(ph.) Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) (ph.) Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia) (ph.) Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) (ph.) Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) (ph.) Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata) (ph.) Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela) (ph.) *"Viola's" form Little Wood Satyr (M.c.)(ph.) Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)(ph.- BanCo NCR) Monarch (Danaus plexippus) (ph.) Queen (Danaus gilippus) (ph.) Soldier (Danaus eresimus)(ph.- BanCo NCR) *Hypo: West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella) seen UvCo 47 species brushfoots (43 ph.) (12 NCR) (*+1 form) (*1 hypothetical) (+1 by others at Lost Maples) Skippers ~ Hesperidae Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)- seen many no ph. Gold-spotted Aguna - (Aguna asander)(ph.UvCo) Tailed Aguna (Aguna metophis) - (UvCo sighting only due to camera malfunction!) Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)(ph.- BanCo NCR) Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes) (ph. - BanCo NCR) Zilpa Longtail (Chioides zilpa) (ph.- BanCo NCR) White-striped Longtail (Chioides catillus)(ph.- BanCo NCR) Two-barred Flasher (Astraptes fulgerator) (ph.UvCo) Sickle-winged Skipper (Eantis tamenund) (ph.& v.- BanCo NCR) Common Streaky Skipper (Celotes nessus)(ph.- BanCo NCR) (C.Durden had Celotes prior - but wasn't on BanCo list) White-patched Skipper (Chiomara georgina)(ph.UvCo) Mazan's Scallopwing (Staphylus mazans) (ph.) Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis) (ph.) Desert Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus philetas) (ph.) Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus oileus) (ph.) Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala)(ph.) Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)(ph.) Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) (ph.) Coyote Cloudywing (Achalarus toxeus) (ph./v.UvCo) Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius) (ph.) Southern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia otho) (ph.) Sachem (Field Skipper) (Atalopedes compestris)(ph.) Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) (ph.) Whirlabout (Polites vibex) (ph.) False Duskywing (Gesta invisus) (ph./v.BanCo) Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis)(ph.) Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)(ph.) Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) (ph.) Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis) (ph.) Meridian Duskywing (Erynnis meridianus) seen only Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor) (ph./v.- UvCo NCR) Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca)(ph.) Southern Skipperling (Copaeodes minima)(ph.) Green Skipper (Hesperia viridis)(ph.) Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris) (ph.) Julia's Skipper (Nastra julia)(ph.) Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola) (ph. BanCo - NCR) Brazilian Skipper (Calpodes ethlius)(ph.UvCo) (seen in BanCo) Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus) seen BanCo '04 Celia's Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes celia) (ph.) Dotted Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes eos) (ph.) Nysa Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes nysa) (ph.) Texas Powdered Skipper (Systasea pulverulenta) - (ph. BanCo NCR) Laviana White-Skipper (Heliopetes laviana) (ph.UvCo) and - (seen in BanCo) *Hypo: Turk's-Cap White-Skipper (Heliopetes macaira) sightings *Hypo: Violet-clouded Skipper (Lerodea arabus) one seen UvCo 44 species skippers (40 ph.) (8 NCR)(*+2 hypothetical) (In addition a number of never ID’d skippers have been seen, and others certainly overlooked due to ignorance too.) |
|
Summary 136 species of Butterflies have been seen within 4 miles of Utopia in 5.66 years, from Nov. '03 to June '09, by one far less than expert. The 8 "hypothetical" sightings are not counted in the 136 total. Nor are the 6 "forms" counted in the total. So in theory we could have 150 species of butterflies right in the area locally. Certainly if there were 10-20 years of expert coverage, that number would be documented in the immediate vicinity of Utopia. Identifiable photo or voucher was obtained of 125+ of the 136 species listed (without the Hypos or forms), an irrefutable evidence rate of ca. 95%. There are about 29 accepted NCR's (per The Lep.Soc. Seasonal Summary, Charles Bordelon) represented (ca. 25 in underworked Bandera, 4 in heavily worked Uvalde) amongst the records. Most of the documentation photos can be viewed here on either on the butterfly photo pages, butterfly news, or bird news pages, or by request. Surely many additional rare or vagrant species move through undetected due to lack of knowledgeable observer coverage. The Many-banded Daggerwing (Marpesia chiron) unknowingly photographed by a "nature watcher" nearby at Lost Maples, is an example. Amazingly, I photo'd a Ruddy Daggerwing (M. petreus) there Aug. 08 ! Perhaps most significant is the number of species on the list that are generally considered "Lower" Rio Grande Valley specialties, in the U.S., and which are likely Mexican in origin. Examples are Ruby-spotted Swallowtail, Ornythion Swallowtail, Yellow, and White, Angled-Sulphurs, Giant, and Great Southern Whites, Zebra, and Julia Longwings, Band-, and Spot-celled Sisters, Red Rim, Blue-eyed Sailor, Malachite, Gold-spotted and Tailed Aguna, Two-barred Flasher, Sickle-winged and White-patched Skipper, and the two species of Daggerwings. Mexico is about 100 miles SW as the butterfly flies. A very big grateful THANK YOU to Charles Bordelon and Mike Overton, for being so willing to share their knowledge and experience, review photographs, and generally help an amateur get it. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Utopia ~ June 2009 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Much current butterfly news is on the bird news page. |
|
Content & Design © www.utopianature.com 2004-2008 |