LepSoc 2016 - Day 8

On the last full day of the conference, I left early in the morning to drive to Boreas Pass at the recommendation of another lepidopterist. I spent all morning and early afternoon in that area, before heading back to the conference for afternoon activities and the evening banquet. This tied with my day in the La Sal Mountains of eastern Utah for the best butterfly day of my trip. I was so excited about all the butterflies I was seeing that I forgot to take pictures! Google pictures of it, it's breathtaking!

Small meadow between a creek and hillside, early morning
Parnassius smintheus Mountain Parnassian, 1 male
Euchloe ausonides Large Marble, 2 males
Colias eurytheme Orange Sulphur, 1 male
Icaricia saepiolus Greenish Blue, 3
Vanessa virginiensis American Lady, 1
Coenonympha tullia Ochre Ringlet, 1
Oeneis chryxus Chryxus Arctic, 2
Oeneis uhleri Uhler's Arctic, 1

Small meadow further up the road
Erynnis persius Persius Duskywing, 1 male
Colias eurytheme Orange Sulphur, 1 female
Icaricia saepiolus Greenish Blue, 1 male, 1 female

Huge meadow/basin about two miles south of the summit
Erynnis persius Persius Duskywing, 2
Polites draco Draco Skipper, 2-3 seen (very skittish!)
Papilio zelicaon Anise Swallowtail, 1
Euchloe ausonides Large Marble, 2 males
Pieris marginalis Margined White, 1 female, saw at least 2 others
Colias eurytheme Orange Sulphur, 1 male
Colias alexandra Queen Alexandra's Sulphur, 3 males, saw several others
Colias meadi Mead's Sulphur, saw 10+ but couldn't catch, very wary
Nathalis iole Dainty Sulphur, 1
Echinargus isola Reakirt's Blue, 2+
Glaucopsyche lygdamus Silvery Blue, 2+
Icaricia saepiolus Greenish Blue, 3+
Agriades glandon rusticus Arctic Blue, 2+
Euptoieta claudia Variegated Fritillary, 2
Coenonympha tullia Ochre Ringlet, 3+
Erebia epipsodea Butler's Alpine, 30+
Oeneis chryxus Chryxus Arctic, 20+

Summit of Boreas Pass - meadows and willow shrub habitat
Pieris marginalis Margined White, 3+
Colias philodice Clouded Sulphur, 1 male
Colias eurytheme Orange Sulphur, 1 female
Colias alexandra Queen Alexandra's Sulphur, 3+
Colias meadi Mead's Sulphur, 3+
Icaricia saepiolus Greenish Blue, ~10
Agriades glandon rusticus Arctic Blue, 1
Euptoieta claudia Variegated Fritillary, 2
Boloria chariclea Arctic Fritillary, 4 males, 1 female, saw <5 others
Boloria freija Freija Fritillary, 2 males
Aglais milberti Milbert's Tortoiseshell, 1
Coenonympha tullia Ochre Ringlet, 2

History of Boreas Pass

My second time on the Continental Divide!

Looking southeast towards the parking area (center), old buildings (left) and a rail car (right),
with Boreas Mountain (13,082 ft) in the background.

Looking northeast at Bald Mountain (13,684 ft) from Boreas Pass

View east across the willow meadows towards Bald Mountain (left) and Boreas Mountain (center right), click for full size.

Old road through the willow shrubs, where I saw several
Arctic Fritillaries and a couple Freija Fritillaries.

On the way back down, clearing with lots of Potentilla shrubs
Erynnis persius Persius Duskywing, 1
Euchloe ausonides Large Marble, 1 male
Colias eurytheme Orange Sulphur, 1 female, ~5 others
Colias alexandra Queen Alexandra's Sulphur, 1 male, ~5 others
Callophrys spinetorum Thicket Hairstreak, 1
Phyciodes pulchella Field Crescent, 1 male, saw ~5 others
Oeneis chryxus Chryxus Arctic, 1