Fieldtrip report: April 16, 2011 to Rackensack Gulch by Janet Witzeman
Pre-trip scouting revealed so few blooming plants and no water in the main canyon this year that it was decided to drive directly to the side canyon where there were a few more flowers and the usual water flowing down through the rocks from the spring higher up.
Fifteen of us, including three members from our sister organization – Southeast Arizona Butterfly Association (SEABA) enjoyed the warm sunny trek up the canyon and through the willows, some of which contained strange caterpillars of Red-spotted Purple (see photo) and Mourning Cloak butterflies.
As usual, Variable Checkerspots were the most numerous species, but even those were less common than in previous years. A Wright’s Metalmark (new for the Rackensack list) was found farther up the canyon by Marceline earlier in the week, but we were unable to locate it during the trip. After lunch at Sears Kay Ruin, a hike up to the top of the ruins trail failed to turn up the expected Great Purple Hairstreak, probably due to the frost damaged Jojoba bushes where it is usually found. Dave Powell led a group to a nearby hill where they found several Martin’s Square-spotted Blues, including a mated pair.
The following 30 species were recorded: Pipevine Swallowtail, Two-tailed Swallowtail, Sara Orangetip, Orange Sulphur, Sleepy Orange, Dainty Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, Reakirt’s Blue, Spring Azure, Martin’s Square-spotted Blue (Sears Kay), Acmon Blue, California Patch (Sears Kay), Variegated Fritillary, Variable Checkerspot, Sagebrush Checkerspot, Elada Checkerspot, Mourning Cloak, Red-spotted Purple (one beautiful fresh individual having just emerged from the chrysalis), Painted Lady, Common Buckeye, Empress Leilia (only one – usually common), Queen, Arizona Powdered Skipper, White/Common Checkered-Skipper, Golden-headed Scallopwing, Common Streaky Skipper, Orange Skipperling, Yucca Giant-Skipper (two, seen by a few, higher up the canyon than usual), Northern White Skipper, Common Sootywing.
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