LRGV Preliminary Report

[FSM...@aol.com]

Hi Everyone,

 

This is a preliminary report on this year's trip to south Texas, where Barbara Volkle, Steve Moore, Bruce Callahan, Tom Gagnon, and I spent [about] a week harassing butterflies in the lower Rio Grande Valley. I returned home a day before everyone else. At that time, Steve, Barbara and I had listed 102 species. I don't know whether Tom and Bruce had any to add or whether Steve and Barbara found anything new on the last day. Still, that's a very good number, given that this year's Texas Butterfly Festival, held the previous week, listed only 97. Steve will undoubtedly post the final list. Stay tuned.

 

I have not yet posted my photos, but will mention the species that were the highlights for me. Without a doubt, the "top two" were definite patch [at Bentsen] and Walker's metalmark [at Resaca de la Palma]. Other bugs worthy of special note include obscure skipper [Laguna Atascosa], Boisduval's yellow [Resaca de la Palma], and yellow angled sulphur [Estero Llano Grande]. [I just remembered Tom and Bruce also had white angled sulphur at Estero, so that makes 103!] There were also plenty of blue metalmarks, Mexican bluewings, and silver-banded hairstreaks, each at multiple locations. Not rare [not common either!], but very photogenic. Pictures to follow.

 

For now, here's a "tickler". On November 1, we visited the famous guamuchil tree behind the Burger King in Edinburg. We were hoping to see the red-bordered pixies known to colonize this tree, but found none. [Perhaps they were between broods; perhaps we got there a little too late in the morning.] What we did find was a beautiful female black witch moth in excellent condition. Going back through my records, this makes  a nice set with the pristine male I photographed in 2008. These are huge moths [wingspan up to seven inches]. They are also exquisitely beautiful. See for yourself:

 

female   http://www.flickr.com/photos/fsmodel/4077230049/

male      http://www.flickr.com/photos/fsmodel/4078016610/

 

Next time, less talk, more pictures.

 

Cheers,

Frank