Colorado Hairstreaks

[58chevy]

I will be in Colorado Springs in late April. I would like to collect Hypaurotis crysalus. Does anybody know a nearby spot to collect them? Will they be flying? Any collecting tips?

[evra]

You're too early in the year I'm afraid. The main flight is in late June and early July. It's also really hard to collect adults. In my experience they perch very high up in oak trees and are really only active late in the day.

If you are willing to drive to Albuquerque you could get Callophyrs mcfarlandi in late April, but that's a 6 hour drive.

[58chevy]

Thanks, Evra. I'll have to plan a summer trip. Wish I had thought to look for mcfarlandi when my son lived in Los Alamos. Will anything (including moths) be flying in CO in late April?

[coloradeo]

First a few caveats... I collect mainly a couple hours North of the Springs, near Boulder. Also, I do not have a lot of Colorado collecting seasons under my belt... That said I have not caught much in April to date. I have seen records on BAMONA noting Hyalaphora columbia flying in late April, particularly in 2012 which was an unseasonably warm and dry April. If it's a real early season, perhaps a few things might skew a few weeks early, but I think you're on the bleeding edge of the season.

ColoradEO

[mikeh]

I am in SW Denver and have had a couple H. columbia come to black lights at my house in April in multiple years. In late April I would expect to see Pierids, overwintering Nymphalids and Callophrys mostly.

[leptraps]

Plan on attending the Lepidopterists' Society Annual meeting at the Nature Place west of Colorado Springs, CO. The meeting is in the first half of July. Find Gamble's Oak trees and you will find the Colorado Hairstreak.

Visit: www.lepsoc.org. scroll down to Annual Meeting.

Leptraps will be there, Light Traps, Bait Traps and Fly Rods.