LepSoc 2016 - Days 5 & 6

Now that the majority of my summer events are over, I'll try to finish the report of my July trip to Colorado. So much to do and so little time!

My first day at The Nature Place in Florissant was spent in the Executive Council meeting. We were all distracted anytime a butterfly flew past the window, but we stuck with it and most of us spent a little time wandering through the grounds in the late afternoon for a quick survey of what species were around. The next day I went to a few of the presentations, then played hooky with three other lepidopterists in the afternoon for some local butterflying.

The Nature Place

Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia), one of many wildflowers in the lawn at The Nature Place.

Male hummingbird

Female hummingbird

Various meadows and pine forests in vicinity of The Nature Place

Thorybes mexicanus Mexican Cloudywing, 3

Erynnis persius Persius Duskywing, 2

Polites themistocles Tawny-edged Skipper, 1

Oarisma garita Garita Skipperling, 10+

Parnassius smintheus Mountain Parnassian, 20+

Pontia protodice Checkered White, 5+

Colias eurytheme Orange Sulphur, 12+

Colias alexandra Queen Alexandra's Sulphur, 15+

Nathalis iole Dainty Sulphur, 1

Lycaena rubida Ruddy Copper, 1 male

Callophrys affinis Western Green Hairstreak, 2

Echinargus isola Reakirt's Blue, 6+

Glaucopsyche lygdamus Silvery Blue, 10+

Plebejus melissa Melissa Blue, 1 male

Icaricia saepiolus Greenish Blue, 10+

Agriades glandon Arctic Blue, 20+

Euphydryas anicia Anicia Checkerspot, 1 male

Euptoieta claudia Variegated Fritillary, 3+

Coenonympha tullia Ochre Ringlet, 10+

Oeneis chryxus Chryxus Arctic, 10+

Wildflower-filled meadow a short walk through the trees southeast of The Nature Place

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

unidentified blue, 1
Callophrys affinis Western Green Hairstreak, 1

Oeneis uhleri Uhler's Arctic, 4

Looking for Uhler's Arctics at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Female blue, it's so faded that I'm not positive on the ID, probably either Melissa or Acmon blue.

Showy Locoweed (Oxytropis splendens)

Western Green Hairstreak (Callophrys affinis) at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Uhler's Arctic (Oeneis uhleri) at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Side road southeast of Florissant Fossil Beds

Oarisma garita Garita Skipperling, 3+

Euptoieta claudia Variegated Fritillary, 6+

Danaus plexippus Monarch, 1

As I left The Nature Place one evening for the short drive back to my cabin,
I had a splendid view of this massive thunderstorm forming over Pike's Peak as the sun was setting.