Central Arizona Butterfly Association

Phoenix Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association.

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Check here regularly for current articles and news items related to Central Arizona Butterfly Association, conservation and nature. If you see an interesting article please let one of our board members know and we will post it here

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Field trip report: Butterflies along the Beeline Highway by Ron Rutowski

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Twenty avid butterfliers led by Ron Rutowski and Marceline Vandewater visited two sites along the Beeline Highway on 23 March 2019. Round Valley was the first stop. Initially at 56 degrees, there was no activity, but more and more butterflies came out as the morning warmed up. At this location we saw 15 butterfly species. At the next stop in Upper Sunflower Valley we walked down the old Beeline Highway to have lunch at the Forest Service work camp. Along the way and at the camp we saw over 70 individual butterflies in 17 species. Our sunny but cool morning along the Beeline yielded a total of 24 species which is about average for this annual spring trip we’re doing since 2009. (2013 was a low year with 10 species, and 2011 & 2015 were high years with over 30 species observed). Here are the species and approximate numbers of each seen per location: Round Valley (15 species; more than 50 individuals) Pipevine Swallowtail 3, Checkered White 8, Pearl Marble 2, Orange Sulphur 1, Dainty Sulphur 4, Western Pygmy Blue 1, Spring Azure 1, American Snout 3, Red Admiral 1, Painted Lady 1, Variable Checkerspot 12, Empress Leilia 1, Queen 10, White Checkered Skipper 2, Funereal Duskywing 2 Upper Sunflower Valley (17 species; more than 70 individuals) Two-tailed Swallowtail 2, Pipevine Swallowtail 2, Checkered White 10, Sarah Orangetip 4, Mexican Yellow 1, Orange Sulphur 12, Dainty Sulphur 10, Western Pygmy Blue 1, “Siva” Juniper Hairstreak 2, Red Admiral 2, Painted Lady 1, Variegated Fritillary 1, Sagebrush Checkerspot 2, Mourning Cloak 1, Common Buckeye 1, Monarch 2, White Checkered Skipper 20

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