Mountain west 2020

[mikeh]

Here are a few field reports of my travel his year

Top of Oak Ridge Road
Sevier Co. UT
Jun 27, 2020
8,700'

Papilion zelicaon
P. rutulus
P. eurymedon
Colias philodice
Pontia sp.
Vanessa cardui
V. atalanta
Nymphalis californica
Euphydryas anicia
Speyeria egleis
Speyeria callippe
Coenonympha tullia
Icaricia icarioides
Euphilotes ancilla
Erynnis sp.
Thorybes mexicana

Plateau above Ferron Canyon
Emery Co. UT
Jun 24, 2020
8,200'

Colias alexandra
Neominois ridingsii
Cercyonis oeta
Icaricia icarioides
Icaricia shasta
Plebejus melissa
Callophyrs affinis
Satyrium behrii
Lycaena heteronea
Hesperia sp.

[mikeh]

Pawnee Buttes area
Weld Co. CO
June 12, 2020
5,200'

Pontia protodice
Vanessa cardui
Speyeria edwardsii
Euptoieta claudia
Plebejus melissa
Echinargus isola
Callophrys affinis
Megathymus streckerii
Hesperia uncas

Wet Mtns SW of Wetmore
Custer Co. CO
May 3 2020
6,700'-8,900'

Papilio rutulus
Colias philodice
Pontia protodice
P. sisymbrii
Euchloe ausonides
Nymphalis antiopa
Vanessa cardui
Euptoieta claudia
Celastrina echo
Glaucopsyche lygdamus
Cupido amyntula
Callophyrs affinis
C. eryphon
C. spinetorum
C. gryneus
Erynnis telemachus
E. brizo
E. pacuvius?

Pawnee Buttes area
Weld Co. CO
April 26, 2020
5,200'

Colias philodice
Pontia protodice
Vanessa cardui
Erynnis persius?
Megathymus yuccae

[58chevy]

Wow, 2 Megathymus species! Were they collected on the wing?

[mikeh]

Both taken on the wing, I think I lucked out with streckerii finding a slow female full of eggs.

www.inaturalist.org/observations/43757435

www.inaturalist.org/observations/49401068

[mikeh]

Northeast of Oneida Narrows Reservoir
Franklin Co. ID
July 2-3, 2020
5,200'

Papilio sp.
Pieris rapae
Colias philodice
Speyeria callippe
Speyeria cybele
Limenitis weidemeyerii
Cercyonis oeta
Cercyonis pegala
Satyrium californica
Callophyrs gryneus
Styrmon melinus
Plebejus melissa
Lycaena helloides
Oarisma garita
Epargyreus clarus

Paradise Creek @ Miller Flat Rd
Emery Co. UT
June 22, 2020
8,800'

Papilio rutulus
Nymphalis californica
Nymphalis antiopa
Speyeria mormonia
Boloria kriemhild
Phyciodes campestris
Phyciodes cocyta
Icarioides saepiolus
Agriades glandon

[gaspipe]

Fantastic. Keep on reporting!

[mikeh]

Mill Canyon Campground
Caribou Co. ID
July 4, 2020

Papilio rutulus
Parnassius clodius
Nymphalis antiopa
Nymphalis milberti
Limenitis weidemeyerii
Speyeria callippe
Speyeria egleis
Speyeria hesperis
Boloria kriemhild
Chlosyne palla
Euphydryas gilettei
Phyciodes cocyta
Coenonympha haydenii
Erebia epipsodea
Cercyonis oeta
Glaucopsyche lygdamus
Icaricia icarioides
Icaricia lupini
Plebejus melissa
Euphilotes ancilla
Lycaena helloides
Erynnis sp.
Carterocephalus palaemon


Georgetown canyon
Bear Lake Co. ID
July 4, 2020

Papilio rutulus
Papilio indra
Parnassius clodius
Anthocharis julia
Euchloe ausonides
Pieris marginalis
Nymphalis californica
Nymphalis milberti
Limenitis weidemeyerii
Speyeria callippe
Speyeria egleis
Speyeria mormonia
Boloria kriemhild
Chlosyne palla
Phyciodes cocyta
Phyciodes campestris
Coenonympha haydenii
Erebia epipsodea
Glaucopsyche lygdamus
Icaricia icarioides
Lycaena helloides
Lycaena nivalis
Erynnis sp.
Pyrgus ruralis

[trehopr1]

Indeed, keep on reporting !

There is a whole different fauna out west (compared to the east); and it is varied...

I am not as familiar with the species out there as so, I am glad you list the scientific names so I can look them up to view these lovely creatures.

Thanks for sharing.

[trehopr1]

Hey mikeh, I just saw your photo of M. streckerii. Wonderful species.

For me, anything with Herman Strecker's name applied to it has special meaning as I had the privilege of having his collections presence in my midst for 8 years. As a technical assistant I photographed some measure of the collection and I certainly enjoyed perusing through it as time allowed !

A marvelous worldwide collection; near 50 thousand specimens.

[Paul K]

Western part of America is obviously more rich in butterfly fauna than eastern part.
I went yesterday July 3 to nearby forest areas and I counted no more than 10 species of butterflies including skippers.

[mikeh]

Loveland Pass
Summit/Clear Creek Co. CO
July 11, 2020

Parnassius smintheus
Colias meadii
Pontia occidentalis
Speyeria mormonia
Boloria chariclea
Chlosyne damoetas
Euphydryas anicia
Erebia epipsodea
Erebia magdalena
Icaricia saepiolus
Icaricia shasta
Agriades glandon
Echinargus isola
Lycaena cupreus
Polites draco


Ute Pass Rd, about 3 mi E of Hwy 9
Summit Co. CO
July 11-12, 2020

Papilio sp.
Parnassius smintheus
Colias alexandra
Pontia protodice
Speyeria callippe
Speyeria mormonia
Speyeria zerene
Vanessa cardui
Euphydryas anicia
Neominois ridingsii
Oeneis chryxus
Oeneis jutta
Cercyonis oeta
Coenonympha tullia
Icaricia icarioides
Icaricia lupini
Euphilotes ancilla
Cupido amyntula
Lycaena heteronea
Lycaena nivalis
Satyrium behrii
Satyrium californica
Satyrium semiluna
Hesperia colorado
Oarisma garita
Thorybes mexicana

[mikeh]

Pawnee Buttes area
Weld Co. CO
July 16, 2020
5,200'

Nathalis iole
Speyeria idalia
Euptoieta claudia
Plebejus melissa
Echinargus isola
Erynnis sp.
Pyrgus communis
Hesperia uncas


Sioux Co. NE
July 16, 2020

Colias philodice
Colias eurytheme
Pontia protodice
Pieris rapae
Speyeria idalia
Euptoieta claudia
Chlosyne gorgone
Phyciodes sp.
Danaus plexippus
Cercyonis pegala
Lycaena dione
Satyrium titus


Ditch Creek Rd
Pennington Co. SD
July 17, 2020

Pieris rapae
Pontia protodice
Colias philodice
Colias eurytheme
Colias christina
Nymphalis milberti
Nymphalis antiopa
Polygonia gracilis
Polygonia progne
Vanessa cardui
Limenitis weidemeyerii
Speyeria hesperis
Speyeria edwardsii
Speyeria coronis
Speyeria mormonia
Speyeria aphrodite
Euptoieta claudia
Phyciodes sp.
Cercyonis pegala
Cercyonis oeta
Coenonympha tullia
Icaricia icarioides
Icaricia saepiolus
Echinargus isola
Polites mystic
Hesperia ottoe
Epargyreus clarus

[mikeh]

Rock Creek near Arlington
Carbon Co. WY
Aug 1, 2020

Parnassius smintheus
Colias eurytheme
Colias philodice
Limenitis weidemeyerii
Speyeria cybele
Speyeria mormonia
Speyeria aphrodite
Speyeria egleis
Speyeria zerene
Chlosyne palla?
Cercyonis sp.
Lycaena heteronea
Lycaena rubidus
Plebejus melissa
Satyrium titus
Satyrium acadica?
Hesperia colorado
Ochlodes sylvanoides
Pholisora catallus

[mikeh]

Montpelier Reservoir
Bear Lake Co. ID
Aug 2, 2020

Colias philodice
Pontia protodice
Vanessa cardui
Limenitis weidemeyerii
Phyciodes campestris
Speyeria mormonia
Speyeria callippe
Speyeria cybele
Speyeria zerene
Cercyonis pegala
Cercyonis oeta
Lycaena helloides?
Lycaena heteronea
Lycaena rubidus
Lycaena editha
Euphilotes ancilla
Icaricia lupini
Glaucopsyche piasus
Apodemia mormo
Satyrium californica
Satyrium behrii
Satyrium titus
Satyrium semiluna
Ochlodes sylvanoides
Hesperia colorado
Thymelicus lineola

Georgetown Canyon
Bear Lake Co. ID
Aug 2, 2020

Parnassius clodius
Colias pelidne
Colias philodice
Nymphalis californica
Limenitis weidemeyerii
Phyciodes campestris
Phyciodes cocyta
Chlosyne palla
Speyeria mormonia
Speyeria callippe
Speyeria cybele
Speyeria egleis
Speyeria hesperis
Speyeria hydaspe
Speyeria zerene
Cercyonis pegala
Cercyonis oeta
Coenonympha haydenii
Lycaena dorcas
Lycaena nivalis
Lycaena heteronea
Lycaena mariposa
Euphilotes ancilla
Icaricia lupini
Icaricia icarioides
Plebejus melissa
Satyrium californica
Satyrium sylvinus
Satyrium titus
Satyrium semiluna
Thymelicus lineola

[gaspipe]

I gotta tell you ; Iam impressed with your trip in a lot of ways . Not only the great variety of species but the trip itself . I d love it if you could do a separate thread when you’re all done on the planning and itinerary.

[mikeh]

Thanks for the kind words, my trips are not quite as far flung as they may seem since I work from home and my wife likes to travel to see various relatives in the summer so I tend to have a lot of visits to places in Idaho, South Dakota, Wyoming and Utah to use as a home base for a quick weekend day trip or hour long pitstops on the way to various places for my family to stretch their legs. A lot of these places I have already visited before so I have a pretty good idea on the best drainages or flowers to check.

On more far flung locations I usually have a target bug or two but often times they are a bit wishful thinking and I am early or late or I might only find one but usually I can scare up a decent list overall.

[mikeh]

Near Lemhi Pass
Lemhi Co. ID
Aug 6, 2020
5,700'-7,600'

Parnassius smintheus
Papilio sp.
Colias philodice
Colias alexandra
Pontia beckerii
Vanessa cardui
Limenitis weidemeyerii
Speyeria zerene
Speyeria mormonia
Speyeria cybele
Cercyonis pegala
Cercyonis oeta
Neominois ridingsii
Plebejus melissa
Icaricia icarioides
Icaricia lupini
Euphilotes sp.
Lycaena heteronea
Lycaena dorcas
Satyrium titus
Satyrium semiluna
Satyrium sylvinus
Hesperia colorado
Hesperia juba
Ochlodes sylvanoides

[mikeh]

Near Bannock Pass
Lemhi Co. ID
Aug 7, 2020
5,700'-7,700'

Parnassius smintheus
Colias philodice
Pontia protodice
Pieris rapae
Nymphalis californica
Vanessa cardui
Speyeria zerene
Speyeria mormonia
Speyeria cybele
Speyeria hesperis
Boloria selene
Phyciodes pulchella
Cercyonis pegala
Cercyonis oeta
Plebejus melissa
Plebejus idas
Icaricia shasta
Icaricia lupini
Lycaena heteronea
Lycaena rubidus
Lycaena editha
Satyrium semiluna
Hesperia colorado
Hesperia juba
Thymelicus lineola

West of Gilmore
Lemhi Co. ID
Aug 7, 2020
8,200'-9,500'

Colias philodice
Nymphalis californica
Vanessa cardui
Speyeria zerene
Speyeria mormonia
Speyeria hesperis
Phyciodes pulchella
Cercyonis oeta
Plebejus idas
Icaricia lupini
Agriades glandon
Hesperia colorado

[mikeh]

FR 550
Jefferson Co. CO
Aug 15, 2020

Colias philodice
Colias eurytheme
Speyeria hesperis
Speyeria aphrodite
Speyeria coronis
Speyeria edwardsii
Euptoieta claudia
Limenitis weidemeyerii
Phyciodes pulchella
Cercyonis oetus
Echinargus isola
Lycaena arota
Poanes taxiles
Hesperia colorado

Jones Pass Rd
Clear Creek Co. CO
Aug 16, 2020

Pieris marginalis
Colias scudderi
Speyeria mormonia
Boloria chariclea
Lycaena dorcas

[mikeh]

School of Mines Peak
Clear Creek/Grand Co. CO
Aug 22, 2020

Parnassius smintheus
Colias scudderi
Colias meadii
Pieris marginalis
Speyeria mormonia
Boloria chariclea
Icaricia shasta
Agriades glandon
Lycaena dorcas
Hesperia colorado

[mikeh]

Here are some pinned photos

Hemileuca, 1st column from Summit Co. CO, 2nd column from Bear Lake Co. ID, 3rd column from Lemhi Co. ID.



Some Parnassius smintheus from Lemhi Co. ID



Some Colias, 1st column Colias pelidne from Bear Lake Co. ID and C. scudderi from Clear Creek Co. CO, 2nd column C. alexandra from Summit Co. CO, 3rd column, Colias christina from Pennington Co. SD, last two columns C. alexandra from Lemhi Co. ID.

[kevinkk]

Jul 4, 2020 18:23:08 GMT -8 Paul K said:

Western part of America is obviously more rich in butterfly fauna than eastern part.
I went yesterday July 3 to nearby forest areas and I counted no more than 10 species of butterflies including skippers.

Interesting..I've always been envious of people that live in the eastern USA, I suppose the collecting is always better on the other side of the fence.
mikeh has been busy, an impressive series of lists.

[exoticimports]

Aug 30, 2020 13:47:05 GMT -8 kevinkk said:

I've always been envious of people that live in the eastern USA, I suppose the collecting is always better on the other side of the fence.
mikeh has been busy, an impressive series of lists.

Based on Mike's records from each site, assuming even that his hike covers multiple elevations and floral zones, is thus: western species are more widespread and generally (I said "generally") abundant, whereas (from my observations) eastern species are more localized.

In my area, the "everywhere" (that is, guaranteed to spot, depending of course on seasonality) species are:
P rapae
C philodice
C euretheme (late summer only)
P canadensis (early only)
P glaucus (late only)
P cresphontes (mid-late only)
P polyxenes
P troilus
P tharos tharos (late)
E clarus
? common not IDed Dusky Skipper
D plexippus
E comyntas
C tullia
C pegala (used to be the most common; no longer so)

I suppose not a bad list, even considering seasonality.

Then there are those more localized such as Liminitis arthemis, liminitis archippus (used to be VERY common, no longer), Speyeria.

Others, particularly Lycaenidae and Hesperidae, are chance encounters. Lesser so Polygonia and Nymphalis (eg milberti).

At the extreme are, for example, Euphydras phaeton which is very common- IF you can find the particular field, they will be abundant; even in fields with the foodplant, it is uncommon to find a population.

Speyeria cybele is an interesting study, in that it is often localized, but males will range far. Thus in one location I observed but a single male, for weeks, chasing other butterflies. Only 2km away was the "mother field" which was loaded with S cybele.

It is my experience in the east, aside from the list of common species above, one must know where a population exists, or stumble across it. This is even more so with some moths, particularly with Sphingidae; species rare in one location may be quite common 5km distant.


Chuck

[leptraps]

I collect in numerous locations during the week, most locations have Bait Trap or two and half dozen Pheromone Traps for Sessidea. Most of my Pheromone Traps are along forest edges or in Power Line Cuts.

Currently Polygonia interrogations are the most abundant in Bait Traps. However, Limenitis arthemis astyanax. Polygonia comma, Vanessa Atlanta and an occasional Nymphalis antiopa.

I am not sure how to gauge Catocala moths.I have collected and mounted about 75+ Catocala moths. Most are the Larger Catocals and not all of the Black Hindwing species have flown yet. I collected or trapped and released about 75+ of the smaller species.

I will visit Killdeer WA either Wednesday/Thursday or Friday/ Saturday. I will overnight in the area and use Light Traps.

I will also visit Grand River WMA and Rest Haven WA. Papaipema moths should begin to fly shortly. I found several nice Seeps while visiting both Grand River WMA, Killdeer WA and in and around the Mantua Wetlands this season. Papaipema speciosissima is one of the target species.

[coloradeo]

Mike,

I am always struck at how much you get around in a summer. Impressive trip reports. I end up hitting the same 5 spots every few weeks. Thanks for the inspiration.

I went up to Pawnee Buttes this year a couple weeks after you were there and I missed the Speyeria idalia there. Did you see many? I know there are colonies around that broad area. The only place I've seen S idalia live was on Nature Conservancy land in Southern Minnesota, but it was too fast to get away and I didn't have my camera ready.

Eric