Lepidopterist

Bulletin of the Utah Lepidopterists' Society

Volume 12 - Number 1 March 2005

Extreme Southwest Utah Could See Iridescent Greenish-blue Flashes A Little Bit More Frequently by Col. Clyde F. Gillette

Battus philenor (blue pipevine swallowtail) in the southern two- thirds of ; in the Grand Canyon (especially at such places as Phantom Ranch 8/25 and Indian Gardens 12/38) and at its rims [(N) 23/75 and (S) 21/69]; in the low valleys of Clark Co., ; and infrequently along the Valley Wash 7/23 which parallels the Utah/Nevada border in Lincoln Co., Nevada. Since this beautiful occasionally flies to the west, southwest, and south of Utah's southwest corner, one might expect it to turn up now and then in Utah's Mojave Desert physiographic subsection of the Basin and Range province on the lower southwest slopes of the Beaver Dam Mountains, philenor Blue Pipevine Swallowtail Photo courtesy of Randy L. Emmitt www.rlephoto.com or sporadically up the "Dixie Corridor" along the lower Virgin River Valley. Even though both of these Lower Sonoran life zone areas reasons why philenor is not a habitual pipevine species.) Arizona's of Utah offer potentially suitable, resident of Utah's Dixie. But I think interesting is "nearby" living conditions for Bat. there is basically only one, and that is watsonii (indianroot pipevine), which phi. philenor, such movements have a complete lack of its larval has alternate leaves shaped like a not often taken place. Or, more foodplants in the region. slightly curved, long-pointed accurately, there has been only arrowhead, and has a thick root The blue pipevine swallowtail minimal proof that such sporadic, supposedly used by Indians and white absolutely requires transient probing has occurred. settlers as a remedy for snake bites. (pipevine family) for its larval Presently, there are only two reliable This plant is the larval foodplant (LF) foodplants, and there are no known records of proof that Bat. phi. for philenor in the greater Southwest occurrences of native pipevine in philenor has been taken in Utah [first wherever they occur together. Utah. Cultivation of pipevines as established by Kilian Roever 2 May ornamentals in Utah is practically ( 1981, with a follow up record by nonexistent. Even in Arizona where pipevine/california dutchmans pipe) is seven year old (at the time) Scott W. Bat. philenor is fairly prevalent, there the LF for Bat. phi. hirsuta in the Wardrop 30 June 1988. Both records is only one indigenous species of great Central Valley of California, as were of males.]. There could be many pipevine. (In , there are several proven by Emily C. Dial and myself in Placer Co., California June 1979. places as the Lytle Ranch Nature corner of Arizona. But, that is (dutchmans Preserve (along the Beaver Dam usually where all the serious trouble pipevine) is often used as an Wash, Washington Co., Utah) and at comes from in those cases which go introduced ornamental in areas where the old Beaver Dam Lodge area south wrong. The full biological effects of it does not occur naturally, and of the Utah/Arizona line and new introductions are often not philenor takes advantage of this Littlefield, Mohave Co., Arizona, that recognized at the outset. Therefore, species and other pipevine would be able to pipevine-plant introductions may not introductions in some instances. maintain viable populations of itself be so completely innocuous as I in Utah. Local garden clubs could believe they are. Nevertheless, I am in An interesting side note is the help in the establishment of the favor of the purposeful introduction meaning of the generic plant name plants. Hopefully, these adventive of pipevines into southwest Utah. Aristolochia. It is Greek derived pipevines would be able to survive in Beyond that, I would not personally from: aristos-best + locheia- the more mild "Dixie" winters. It bring in ova, larvae, or gravid females, childbirth, named for its legendary would be necessary, of course, to but I would be most pleased if these effectiveness in aiding human caution participating gardeners wonderful were able to childbirth. Aristolochia is one of ten against spraying the plants or make it on their own. It would be genera of the mostly tropical squashing the black and red larvae greatly satisfying to more frequently Aristolochiaceae (pipevine/birthwort (which some people incorrectly and see their iridescent greenish-blue family) containing approximately 600 annoyingly call "worms") with their flashes throughout the southwestern species in both the Eastern and prominent 9 mm pair of anterior corner of Utah. Western hemispheres, nearly 500 of filaments. For promoting repeated which are in Aristolochia. Definitions: life cycles of this very beautiful Aristolochiaceae is quite an isolated indigenous - [L. indigena-native] native species greenish-blue, tailed pipevine family of plants, not very closely originating, developing, or living naturally in a butterfly would be one of the primary particular region or environment. (Indigenous is related to any other family of dicots. reasons for growing the pipevines in nearly synonymous with endemic derived from Its nearest relatives are probably in the Greek word end‘mia.) the first place. the complex of orders Magnoliales adventive - nonnative, inadvertent or purposeful and Ranunculales. A curious feature All of the three Aristolochia species introductions of species from other places which of Aristolochiaceae is that its floral mentioned - watsonii, californica and have not become fully naturalized. parts are trimerous (occurring in macrophylla would be suitable for threes or multiples of threes), which is transplant into southwestern Utah. a common feature of the class With Ari. californica, however, care Larvae Are Very Cannibalistic Monocotyledoneae (monocots) rather must be taken not to bring in the early In June 1979, when Emily C. Dial and than the Dicotyledoneae (dicots) of stages of Bat. phi. hirsuta when Bat. I discovered Bat. phi. hirsuta larvae which it is a part. Many bizarre or phi. philenor would be the subspecies crawling all over Ari. californica exotic species of this family are which might take hold naturally. This near Roseville, ½ Placer Co., cultivated as greenhouse curiosities. brings up the important issue of California, we brought back a good The showy tropical Ari. grandiflora complete biological naturalism vs. number of them to Salt Lake City for (pelicanflower pipevine), for example, biological intervention by human rearing. Unfortunately, we has flowers with diameters of 51 beings. Nearly everyone agrees that underestimated the voracity of our cm/20 in which have a tail-like there have been numerous cases of charges and by the time our rearing appendage 89 cm/ 35 in long! biological disasters which have neared completion, our refrigerated occurred by man's intervention, I have long conceived of a plan to LF stocks were precariously low. whether unintended or purposeful. encourage and aid people in Utah's Most of our potted plants took hold The direct cause of some of these Dixie to cultivate various species of and were growing, but the last larvae biological disasters is the introduction Aristolochia in their gardens. (I once devoured the new tender leaves before of new species of viruses, bacteria, gathered seeds of a species of the leaves could grow to a fourth of plants and into new regions Aristolochia from Guadalupe Co., their normal size. Then the ravenous or areas where they had not existed Texas for the purpose of transplanting larvae ate the stems. When the stems previously. them into Utah.) The hope would be were consumed, to our surprise the that once enough growing pipevine My thinking in this situation is this: remaining rapacious larvae turned on plants are scattered around in such I cannot see any negative biological each other. It seemed the first by- potential sites as Leeds, La Verkin, effects from the introduction of chance bite taken out of a Hurricane, Washington, Gunlock, and automatically designated that larva as Santa Clara, St George 8/27, macrophylla plants into southwest a cannibalistic victim. The victim Bloomington, and especially such Utah and the extreme northwest see Larvae p 3

2 Fundamental differences between the California Sister and the Arizona Sister (Adelpha bredowi californica vs. Adelpha bredowi eulalia) by Todd L. Stout

Adelpha bredowi californica Adelpha bredowi eulalia California Sister Arizona Sister Photo courtesy of Todd L. Stout

Over the years, there have been illustrates that one has to be cautious Also, if you take a look at the ventral several butterfly enthusiasts who and not bring back more ova and/or hindwing cream-white bands of both have inquired about the differences larvae than can be supported by your taxa, the arizona sister clearly shows between the california sister and the readily available food supply.) We do a continuous slim blue line on the arizona sister. The purpose of this not know if these "hyper" Bat. phi. outer edge of the band. If you look at article is to discuss as well as to hirsuta larvae would occasionally be the same area of the california sister, illustrate their most basic, consistent cannibalistic in their natural setting, you will see that the same lavender differences. but we wouldn't be too surprised if it line is only intermittent. After proved to be so. These larvae were As shown on the images above, the studying long series of both taxa, these very active and strongly aggressive! It ventral hindwing of the california sister differences appear to be diagnostic as could well be they had a heightened (Adelpha bredowi californica) has a opposed to being individual variation. sense of LF shortage which made them lavender background as opposed to the noticeably more so. Bat. philenor ova blue background of the ventral Larvae are laid in rows in a loose mass on the hindwing of the arizona sister (Adelpha continued from p 2 was then completely consumed by the underside of leaves. Their larvae are bredowi eulalia). remaining larvae. Two such occurrences strongly gregarious until about half Furthermore, if you look at the basal were noted. The last few larvae grown. This gregarious feeding pattern area of the ventral hindwing, you'll pupated before reaching full growth and allows their larvae a natural opportunity to develop cannibalistic habits not see clearly that A. b. californica has the pupae were undersized. This may be another instance illustrating that available to species whose larvae feed in two orange bars (one smaller than larvae which normally feed only on their isolation. the other) while A. b. eulalia only LFs, resort to cannibalism when faced has one longer orange bar in the with strong hunger and have the Emily C. Dial and same basal area. opportunity for doing so. (It also Col. Clyde F. Gillette

3 Utah Lepidopterists’ Society Co-Founder Receives Prestigious Highest Award Emily C. Dial, co-instigator in the concentrated there in such large editor volunteering to help this original founding of the Utah numbers, and it surprised her so Samaritan cause. So Pet Samaritan Lepidopterists' Society (on 6 Nov much that she dropped her popsicle. Fund was born to help needy 1976) and founder and director of the I truly wish that more butterfly animals! Pet Samaritan Fund (PSF), recently collectors were somewhat like MLE For approximately 10 years Pet received the 2004 "Award for regarding their collecting habits. I Samaritan Fund worked out of the Excellence", the highest honor given have been with her during nearly all veterinary hospital helping owners by No More Homeless Pets in Utah of her butterfly collecting. Believe who could not afford to save their for her organization's achievements of me - MLE is no threat to butterfly sick or injured pets, adopting success on behalf of companion populations no matter how special or animals that would have been animals. Emily's commitment to the difficult the species might be to get. euthanized by control overall well being of animals is When collecting our first agencies, and by helping owners who extremely deep and of long duration Coenonympha haydeni in Montpelier could not keep their pets. The fund in her life. Her personal philosophy Canyon, June 1974, those silveredge was supported by fund raisers and regarding animals has long been that ringlets were fairly common, but contributions from clients who loved all dogs and cats deserve to have and MLE would collect only a couple of helping the unfortunate animals. PSF should be guaranteed having loving, them. In the summer of 1989, when obtained its 501(c)(3) non-profit care-giving homes, and that we MLE hiked almost to the Canadian status in October 1994. should work to become a no-kill state border with me in the Pasayten and nation! Her Pet Samaritan Fund Wilderness of the Okanogan Then Central Valley was sold to a organization sponsors sick and Highlands of central, northern Corporation, which focused totally injured pets - quite often in cases Washington (Okanogan Co.), even on the bottom line and wanted no part where there is no one, or no other when the butterfly was Colias nastes of charity work. Now PSF animals animal organization, to help. (Emily's (clouded tundra sulfur) - MLE are kept in foster homes in the Salt email address is [email protected] ) wouldn't collect more than two. Lake City and Vernal areas and When looking at other butterfly receive their medical attention from Before letting Emily tell her own Pet collections, Emily's now most famous other veterinary hospitals. Pet Samaritan Fund and Award for statement is "I've got one of those." Samaritan Fund works with the No Excellence story (in her own words), More Homeless Pets (NMHP) in I want to relate part of her Naturally, I attended the "8th Annual, Utah coalition whose goal is to make lepidopterous story. Back when she Utah Awards for Distinguished Utah a no-kill state. was much too young to know Service to Animals and End of the differently in Hicksville, Defiance Year Gala," put on by No More Every year the number of rescued Co., Ohio, right next to Indiana - Homeless Pets in Utah and helped by animals adopted increases. In 2003, MLE (Emily) thought that she had Best Friends Animal Society (of PSF adopted out 1167 homeless pets, discovered the beautiful Eurytides Kanab, Utah), all of whose efforts, and as of June 2004, 894 animals marcellus (zebra swallowtail). like Emily's PSF, have saved have been placed in responsible MLE's favorite butterfly has always thousands of innocent pets' lives. homes. All the animals are given been Danaus plexippus (monarch) But Emily will tell her own story. medical attention (if needed), which she lovingly and personally spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and Pet Samaritan Fund relates to. This is so because she micro-chipped. PSF also helps knows that monarchs like to stay up “On 10 June 1990 two outdoorsmen owners who cannot afford the late and MLE is consistently the rushed in to Central Valley veterinary care necessary to save their greatest "nite-owl" I have ever known. Emergency Clinic with five seriously sick or injured animals. injured kittens. They had apparently That is quite understandable because On 27 June 2003, PSF was presented with her it is genetic - even her been sealed in a cardboard box and the Award for Excellence by NMHP; historical English, Battershell family thrown over a 200 foot cliff in an old and on 25 June 2004, the organization crest is covered in owls. rock quarry. The box had burst open received the highest honor given by upon impact and the kittens lay NMHP, Non-Profit Organization of the In late June 1974, along US Hw 189 scattered among the rocks. Their Year! (We feel like we won an Oscar!) a little north of Frontier, Lincoln Co., story appeared in the veterinary [MLE was so thrilled and was so , MLE and I stopped for a newsletter entitled "Samaritans of the absolutely elated moment beside the road. Neominois 90's" and many readers called the see Award p11 ridingsi (banded greyling) were

4 The Challenge of Raising Northern Utah Orangetips ( stella browningi and thoosa) by Todd L. Stout

Figure 1. Top Row: male, female and male (ventral) utah stella orangetip ( browningi) Bottom Row: male, female and male (ventral) southwestern orangetip (Anthocharis sara thoosa) Photo courtesy of Todd L. Stout

Introduction productive. singletons on the top of the plant (Figure 2). The only other northern The purpose of this paper is to review Females of Anthocharis sara thoosa Utah pierid that utilizes the same strategies in order to facilitate the lab and Anthocharis stella browningi oviposition strategy as Anthocharis rearing of two northern Utah prefer to oviposit on the inflorescens orangetips–Anthocharis stella on Arabis is ausonides and stems near siliques of spotty browningi (utah stella orangetip) and coloradensis (large marble). Because montane mustards such as Arabis Anthocharis sara thoosa (southwestern A. s. browningi and E. a. sparsiflora var. subvillosa (sicklepod orangetip) (Figure 1). To effectively coloradensis are sympatric and rear these butterflies in the lab, it is rockcress), Arabis perennans (pretty synchronic in the Wasatch Range, necessary to overcome certain obstacles rockcress), Arabis holboellii there is a chance that an orange ovum as well as learn certain helpful tips in (holboels rockcress), Arabis found on the tip of an Arabis plant the field. There is little doubt that this microphylla (little-leaf rock cress), group--the Anthocharis sara complex-- could be that of either species. and pinnata (pinnate is one of the more difficult groups of However, in the Basin and Range tansymustard). In fact, any species of pierids to raise. province, if you find an ovum on top Arabis serves as a suitable lab of an Arabis plant, it is more likely to Obtaining Ova From Hostplants hostplant for the Anthocharis sara be Anthocharis sara thoosa since complex. Like other pierids, there are basically Euchloe ausonides coloradensis flies two ways of obtaining ova. The first While females of Pieris sisymbri quite sparingly there. method is to harvest ova from their nigravenosa (dark-veined spring white) larval hostplants, and the second and Pieris sisymbri sisymbri (spring Although Euchloe hyantis lotta method is to collect live females and white), prefer to lay their in (desert marble) also uses Arabis spp. set them up in a cage to oviposit. quantities of one to seven or more on as well as , they Both methods can be productive with the young basal leaves of Arabis spp., tend to fly roughly two weeks after A. the latter probably being the more females of the Anthocharis sara sara thoosa. Therefore, the best time complex usually lay their eggs as to find A. sara thoosa ova, depending

5 upon elevation and other seasonal factors, is probably the latter part of April. On the other hand, the best time to find E. hyantis lotta ova is likely the first or second week of May. The other larval hostplant that northern Utah Anthocharis uses is Descurainia pinnata. Similar to their oviposition preference on Arabis spp., female Anthocharis sara thoosa and Anthocharis stella browningi tend to oviposit on the upper leaflets or flower heads of D. pinnata; assuming flower heads are yet visible. At the same time, Figure 2. Computer-graphic enhanced orange ova shows typical females of all Utah subspecies of oviposition preference of females of the A. sara complex on hostplant Pieris sisymbri tend to oviposit Arabis perennans. Ova normally are solitary in nature. toward the middle or bottom leaflets Photo courtesy of T. Beth Kinsey and Wildflowers of Tucson of the plant. However, sometimes http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/index.html the distinction of oviposition preference between these two green, yellow and light-bluish white, butterfly groups is not so cut and dry sisymbri often scatters more ova on a respectively. From the time of with Descurainia pinnata as it is single plant than A. sara complex oviposition, it generally takes these ova with Arabis. On D. pinnata, species. about four days to eclose under artificial sometimes you might find an ovum on conditions at room temperature and leaflets right in the middle of the Another field tip that might be helpful in about five days under natural plant where it could be either P. distinguishing ova of orangetips, conditions. marbles, and spring whites is that newly sisymbri, A. sara or A. stella. One tip Obtaining Ova From Wild- laid ova are different in color (Figure 3). that might differentiate these ova is that collected Females P. sisymbri eggs tend to be more For example, the color of a newly laid elongate than those of the A. sara orangetip ovum is white, whereas the Because of the potential challenge of complex. But this difference can be color of newly laid spring white, large locating ova of the A. sara complex quite subtle to the naked eye. Also, P. marble, and desert marble ova are out in the field, a more productive approach might be to collect a few females in the wild and set up a cage with the larval hostplant inside in order to induce oviposition. Since females of the A. sara complex lay their eggs quite quickly in nature, it is advisable to collect females that are relatively fresh. Orangetip females seem to start flying about five to seven days after the males have started their flight. (For instructions on how to set up an oviposition cage, see Figure 4.) Once eggs have been harvested, it is absolutely critical to separate them from each other. First instar orangetip larvae (as well as most all other larvae) are highly cannibalistic and will feed on other ova if it finds them. Place them into small individual containers such as solo cups until they hatch. Remember to check the cups regularly Figure 3. Ova coloration for northern Utah Anthocharis sara for newly-hatched larvae. Gently complex, Pieris sisymbri, Euchloe ausonides and Euchloe hyantis. transfer a first instar larva

6 Figure 4. In order to obtain ova from wild-collected Figure 5. The Open Terrarium Method: With a screen females, consider a setup where a bottled plant is lid, this particular setup consists of 2 ten gallon nestled inside a cage adjacent to the side receiving terrariums taped together (the bottom glass hammered filtered sunlight. Place wild-collected females inside out of one) in order to accommodate taller growing the cage. Anthocharis females also use Arabis as a larval foodplants. For most applications, a regular 10 source and can stay fed on the same plant gallon terrarium with screen lid should work fine. while laying eggs. Photo courtesy of Todd L. Stout Photo courtesy of Todd L. Stout

with a teasing needle onto a flower in Figure 5, it is best to remove the readers the many mistakes that the head of the larval hostplant at a lower one third to one half of all author of this paper has made over reasonable distance from any other basal leaves. This is advisable the years in working with this group larvae. This should alleviate one's because, after a few days, these leaves so that they can avoid these same concerns with cannibalism. are always the first to turn yellow and mistakes. become unusable. Setting Up Your Rearing In terms of larval hostplant preference, Apparatus As is true with many other Pierinae northern Utah Anthocharis are not mature larvae, Anthocharis larvae “tip generalists as are species of Euchloe Experience has shown that the open and Pieris. For example, in addition to terrarium method, with a screen top, their hand” letting you know that rockcresses and tansymustard, larvae of is an effective strategy for rearing all they have finished eating by Pieris sisymbri, Euchloe hyantis, and Utah Pierinae species including becoming conspicuously darker just Euchloe ausonides will also readily orangetips (Figure 5). The idea before setting up their prepupa. This accept (in the lab and in nature) other behind the open terrarium method is would be a good time to transfer common valley floor mustards such as Isatis tinctoria (dyars woad), Cardaria that the top is composed of a screen these larvae to a suitable place to pupate. draba (white top), Brassica nigra lid creating free air flow allowing (black mustard), and Sisymbrium caterpillar frass to dry. Similar to altissimum (tumble mustard). On the Selecting the Proper Mustard to swallowtail caterpillars, pierid larvae other hand, orangetip larvae perish can get sick if overexposed to its own Feed Orangetip Caterpillars using these mustards under laboratory undried frass in a high humid The key to the successful rearing of conditions. The travesty with these microenvironment. orangetip larvae to adults is to only common mustards isn’t that orange-tip feed them on the northern Utah larvae will refuse them, it’s more that If set up correctly, the mustard plants Anthocharis first instar larvae will natural native mustards already should last for about six to seven actually start feeding on them and mentioned. Period. If you days before the hostplant needs to be appear to thrive and do well until they understand that, the following replaced. Remember to place larvae reach fourth or fifth instar at which paragraphs, for all intents and on the siliques of the hostplant. point they will suddenly perish, purposes, are moot. The purpose of Before placing freshly cut hostplant probably due to slow poison or some these warnings is to share with into a bottle similar to what is shown other chemical imbalance. Note:

7 Euchloe hyantis hyantis larvae do not Although this plant can be quite short harvested your hostplant in order to survive to adult feeding on Cardaria and provide less food bulk per stalk, have accurate data for your Pieris draba (white top). many individual plants can contain sisymbri. This potential nuisance dozens of stalks that can be used for just seems to be part of the price you The worst mustard one could choose to feed northern Utah Anthocharis is the lab rearing. pay for rearing northern Utah Anthocharis. alien, invasive, poisonous and Probably the most frustrating unfortunately common flixweed rockcress to rely upon for rearing With regards to cutting hostplant (Descurainia sophia). It’s easy to purposes in the lab is Arabis from the wild, remember that confuse flixweed with its less- sparsiflora var. subvillosa (sicklepod rockcresses are perennials, most of common documented larval hostplant rockcress). Although this plant is which are sending up spring stalks Descurainia pinnata. To make considered a perennial, basal rosettes year after year. Therefore, it is matters worse, finding D. pinnata is of this variety of rockcress seem to wholly inappropriate as well as a challenge because the plant seeks only live for a few years. This can be pointless to destroy them by pulling shady refuge under an occasional frustrating as you hike diligently to them up by the roots. All that one juniper or other canyon tree. In find a few good spots where this needs to do is prune the plant above northern Utah, D. pinnata is more mustard is growing one year, only to the basal leaves taking some stalks common during springs following find that most plants have died, and leaving others. Experience has very wet winters. On the other hand, requiring you to find it growing shown that by leaving some stalks flixweed grows very common elsewhere another year. intact, the plant has a better chance of throughout northern Utah’s valley surviving. floor. A helpful tip in finding more rockcresses for lab rearing is that The same precaution need not apply A key way to separate D. pinnata Arabis sparsiflora var. subvillosa and to Descurainia pinnata since they are from D. sophia is to look closely at Arabis perennans do tend to grow annuals coming up from seed. If one the siliques. On D. sophia, the more abundantly at higher elevations. wants to make sure and conserve silique is generally slightly thicker Since colonies of Anthocharis stella colonies of these mustards, it might than the stem to which it is attached. browningi fly later at these higher be fruitful to make sure and leave Also, this same silique is usually elevations, it may be more prudent to some plants untouched; so that, when about three times longer than this raise browningi in May or June as the plant goes to seed, it can produce same stem. On the other hand, with opposed to April when Arabis is more in the future. D. pinnata, the silique is usually to more plentiful. In northern Utah, two to three times thicker than the Finding Caterpillars in the Wild some good locations to find Arabis at stem to which it is attached, yet is higher elevations are along the Although finding Anthocharis stella also approximately the same length as Skyline Drive to Bountiful Peak and browningi and Anthocharis sara its accompanying stem. In other in Farmington Canyon past Sunset thoosa ova is not particularly words, D. pinnata siliques are shorter Campground. difficult, it seems that in northern and stouter than those of D. sophia. Utah, finding their late instar larvae is Another tip to remember as you (Figure 6). The difficulty of finding Just as finding Descurainia pinnata harvest hostplant from the wild is that larger caterpillars is probably caused growing in the wild can sometimes be because Pieris sisymbri females lay by several factors including larval a challenge to the less-experienced multiple ova on Descurainia pinnata , , as well as lepidopterist, finding enough Arabis and Arabis spp., you will likely be competition with larvae of Pieris spp. (rockcress), can be equally bringing home some small, sisymbri. For some reason, almost challenging. Although there are unnoticeable spring white eggs and/or exclusively, if you find an older several species of Arabis growing in caterpillars that are there just for the pierid larva on rockcresses or pinnate northern Utah, they all are, ride. As you use this same hostplant, tansymustard, it will invariably be a unfortunately, somewhat spotty and and change it about a week or so spring white larva, or even a large difficult to find. later, you will probably find these marble larva. In northern Utah, Arabis perennans, darker, P. sisymbri caterpillars is one of the more common feeding with your orangetip Another possible explanation for the rockcresses. It can be found growing caterpillars. Therefore, whether you author’s difficulty in finding late instar in spots along rocky outcroppings of planned it or not, you may be raising orangetip larvae is that most of the a batch of Pieris sisymbri with your searching involved finding plants of our northern Utah canyons. Another Arabis sparsiflora var. subvillosa rockcress, which grows in rocky and Anthocharis. If you intend to push growing in canyon bottoms in slate formations in canyons such as these spring white larvae through, it association with scrub oak as opposed Big Cottonwood Canyon, is Arabis will then be necessary to take good to hiking the steeper rock faces where microphylla (little-leaf rock cress). field notes of when and where you A. sparsiflora and A. perennans grow

8 more consistently. It is possible that the mortality rate of Anthocharis immatures is much less in those more protected areas. Extended Pupal Diapause One thing to remember when rearing northern Utah Anthocharis is that pupae may not necessarily emerge the next spring. In the western U.S., some groups of overwintering papilionid and pierid pupae are especially sensitive to the aridity of the region from which they fly. This Figure 6. Left: Third instar larva of Anthocharis sara thoosa sensitivity can extend their pupal camouflaging itself as a silique on Arabis sparsiflora var. subvillosa. diapause a certain number of years Right: Fifth instar larva of Anthocharis sara thoosa on common southern proportional to the overall dryness of Utah hostplant Streptanthella longirostris. the region–even if pupae are exposed Photos courtesy of Todd L. Stout (left) and Jack L. Harry (right) to ideal lab conditions. This innate self-protection defense mechanism actually is a good thing and helps annickae (one year). This probably collect females in the wild and set protect against population crashes. tells us how arid the Ohio “desert” is. them up in a cage along with cuttings This scenario is applicable to Conclusion of their larval hostplant in order to northern Utah Anthocharis stella entice them to oviposit. Collecting The best approach to rearing northern browningi and Anthocharis sara ova in the field can also be somewhat Utah Anthocharis stella browningi thoosa in differing magnitudes. productive, although and Anthocharis sara thoosa is to Because of the significance of the see Orangetips p13 average yearly rainfall in the Wasatch Mountains, pupae of A. s. browningi generally emerge after one to two winters of diapause depending upon lab conditions. At the same time, because of the more arid nature of the Basin and Range province, pupae of A. s. thoosa generally emerge after two to four winters of diapause (Figure 7). Within a certain margin of error, these same time frames also seem to apply to the other Euchloe and Pontia species that fly in these same regions. For example, like A. s. browningi in the Wasatch range, pupae of E. ausonides and P. s. sisymbri generally take one to two years to emerge, whereas, like A. s. thoosa in the Basin and Range province, pupae of E. h. lotta and P. s. nigravenosa generally take two to four years to emerge. Even more extreme examples of this general phenomenon are evident when comparing average lab emergence Figure 7. Pupae and recently-emerged female of Anthocharis sara thoosa times of Mojave Desert populations from the Oquirrh Mountains, in the vicinity of Cedar Fort, Utah Co., Utah. of pima (three The time frame between finding the ovum and emergence of this adult was nearly three years. to nine years) with southern Ohio Photos courtesy of Todd L. Stout colonies of

9 Collecting Alpine Butterflies in the Uinta Mountains of Northeastern Utah by Alan R. Myrup

For many years (1985-2000), I backpacked with my scout troop into the High Uintas Wilderness Area in northeastern Utah seeking the beautiful scenery and excellent trout fishing in the clear mountain lakes and streams. Usually these trips were during the second week of July and took us through of lodgepole pine and engelmann spruce interspersed with wet boggy , Oeneis jutta ( arctic) country. My scouts always seemed to get a laugh watching me with my net in hand and back pack strapped on, stumbling after the butterflies as they bobbed and bounced through the dead fall along the trail. It is amazing that I never became impaled on one of the many broken branches jutting out from the fallen tree trunks Oeneis taygete (white-veined arctic) perched in the short alpine grasses crisscrossing the forest floor. Each near Leidy Peak 9 July 2004. Photo courtesy of Alan R. Myrup trip, I usually came up with a couple of worn males or an occasional fairly fresh female. I never seemed to have the time to stop and do some serious Shanna. She was willing to go with and yellow flowers in bloom, our collecting. The timing also seemed to me as long as we included some timing couldn’t have been better. be just a little late for collecting fresh fishing into the mix. We stopped at Boloria freija was extremely common Oeneis jutta. the same location that Todd and I had flying in nearly every open, grassy, visited previously and came up with alpine meadow between the shrubby, One of my goals for the summer of three O. jutta among the deadfall stunted krumholtz vegetation of 2004 was to collect fresh specimens under the trees. They just seemed to engelmann spruce. We collected of Oeneis jutta. So when ULS be very sparse at that particular enough for my personal collection, member Todd L. Stout invited me to location. We returned to the truck some for the ULS Synoptic collect with him on the Red Cloud and drove further up the road in Collection and a short series for the Loop in the Uinta Mountains north of search of new O. jutta habitat. Monte L. Bean Museum collection at Vernal, I gladly accepted. On 26 Brigham Young University, which June, we drove up Dry Fork Canyon Finding lots of what we believed to be had very few Boloria freija. As we on the Red Cloud Loop road to an good habitat but no O. jutta, we gave up approached the base of Leidy Peak, area just north of Charleys Park, and decided to try the alpine tundra near Leidy Peak for another early butterfly, still covered with intermittent snow approximately 2700 meters (9000 ft.) Boloria freija (zigzag bolorian). I had banks, we kicked up a few Oeneis in elevation. We collected in a clear a few dull, worn specimens of B. freija taygete (white-veined arctic). Their cut surrounded by lodgepole pines that I had collected in the Chepeta Lake flight period was just beginning, but about 400 meters west of the road. area several miles to the west of Leidy we managed to collect five very fresh We kicked up a few Oeneis chryxus Peak. For the most part, the road to dark brown specimens. After about (common arctic) in the open areas Leidy Peak was in good shape and an hour, the clouds shut down the before the clouds, as they often do in easily passa ble in my two-wheel drive collecting so we decided to try our the Uintas, shut down the butterfly Ford Ranger. The elevation at end of luck with fishing at nearby Hacking collecting for the day. Disappointed, the road is approximately 3300 meters Lake. Hacking Lake, not much more we headed for home in a driving rain (10,800 ft.), very near the treeline and than a shallow pond at the base of a but vowed to return. On 6 July, I required little hiking to get up into talus slope, was a mirror of quiet returned to the area with my daughter alpine tundra. With the sun shining

10 water dimpled with rings that I worked our way to the north until A recent rescue was Holly, a very revealed the presence of trout sipping we reached a steep talus drop off lovable small shepherd mix. She had flies from its surface - all just out of overlooking the wide open forests and been hit by a car and picked up by reach of our casts. After a while of meadows below. Indeed, there were West Valley Animal Control. Upon futile casting and dragging a fly almost as many O. melissa there, on calling on her microchip information behind a bubble, a new set of rings the more rocky terrain, as there were they found that her owner had died appeared within range. I made a O. taygete on the grassy flats where and the family members did not want perfect cast just beyond the rise and we had been collecting. Unlike the anything to do with her. She would slowly began to reel the fly back over Oeneis taygete, which were more need a lot of medical attention; her the spot where the fish had surfaced. easily followed over the grassy slopes, face was torn open, her jaw was Just then my daughter managed to O. melissa had a nasty habit of rising broken, and one eye was destroyed. tangle her line and asked for my help. into the wind and dropping off over West Valley Animal Control I handed her my pole and told her to the steep talus where we could not requested help from rescue groups, reel it in, nice and slow, while I pursue without breaking our legs. but PSF was the only group that began to untangle her line. Within However, eventually we both managed volunteered to take her. The seconds, she had hooked the fish to collect all that we needed including prognosis was not very hopeful, but with MY pole on MY cast! I argued some for the ULS Synoptic she fooled all the doctors! She is with her, in vein, about whose fish it Collection and the Monte L. Bean now able to eat normally, does fine really was while she reeled it in (She Museum Collection. Several with one eye, her face has been put wasn’t about to give me the pole specimens of Oeneis taygete and O. back together and she is a happy, back.), but she wouldn’t budge and melissa were donated to the DNA sweet gentle girl. She is in a foster proceeded to land the only trout we tissue collection at Brigham home now and soon will be ready to caught that afternoon. Young University. The wings of find a new permanent loving home.” these specimens were clipped, placed Later, when I told Todd about the Emily has been a past Secretary for in envelopes and cataloged, while fresh Oeneis taygete and especially the ULS where she performed very their bodies were placed in 100% how easy it was to hike to them when well in PR because of her warm, ethanol and frozen at -80°C for long compared to the Chepeta Lake area, friendly, outgoing personality. In term storage. Dr. Michael Whiting, he insisted that I take him there and I earlier times she attended ULS Associate Professor of Integrated happily agreed. He also mentioned meetings most regularly. After she Biology at BYU, and his team have that Jim P. Brock, from Arizona, created the PSF, her extremely strong been studying insect phylogeny at the wished to find an easily accessible dedication to animal welfare required family level by sequencing and place in Utah to find alpine her to quit attending ULS meetings comparing their DNA. Their growing butterflies. On 9 July, we met Jim in because nearly all the main animal DNA tissue collection has been used Roosevelt and proceeded to Leidy adoption fairs occur on the two-day by many scientists who have obtained Peak. The sun was shining and the weekends. Having to lose MLE to material from the collection on loan butterflies were everywhere. We such a great, noble, worthy cause as for their own work on various insect observed a few fresh Erebia animal welfare makes losing her more groups. magdalena (black alpine) dancing palatable. I greatly support the hard, over a boulder field. Thankfully, I It would be interesting to compare tedious, often frustrating work that wasn’t in pursuit of them having the DNA of these Utah alpine relict she manages for PSF, and am highly collected my standard five males and populations with Canadian arctic appreciative of her successes. five females from other locations. populations and their Eurasian Besides, the thought of breaking my counterparts. Perhaps DNA evidence Emily's PSF work is physically ankles chasing those “black demons” would provide some insight into demanding, (repeatedly moving all over the boulders did not appeal to whether we should call our North those animals, cages, operating me at all. We hiked past the boulder American populations Oeneis bore, as equipment, etc. around) and quite field into the wide open grassy tundra some suggest, rather than Oeneis emotionally exhausting at certain teeming with dozens of Oeneis taygete, which others contend is a times, yet she continues to press on. taygete and an occasional Oeneis circumpolar species. Congratulations Emily, for receiving melissa (smoky arctic). Jim had gone that coveted, sought-after special around to the north side of Leidy Award award. The ULS is thankful that you Peak while Todd and I collected on continued from p 4 received that well-deserved public recognition. the east side. When Jim returned, he that she was walking around on told us that there were more Oeneis clouds, and so cute in accepting her Col. Clyde F. Gillette melissa on the north side than where award for PSF!] we had been collecting. So Todd and ULS President

11 The Utah Lepidopterists’ Society Synoptic Collection

One of the purposes of the Utah Lepidopterists’ Society, as stated in Article II Section 2 of the Constitution and Bylaws, is to create and maintain a synoptic collection of the butterflies, skippers and of Utah. The purpose of this collection is to provide a readily available set of reference material of Utah that can be used for comparison and quick identification of Utah collected specimens. For many years, ULS members have donated to this collection which, as of January 2005, contains 520 butterflies, 109 skippers and 325 moths. Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, has generously housed the ULS Synoptic Collection in their The goal of the Utah Lepidopterists’ Society Synoptic Collection is to entomology section at the Monte L. obtain voucher specimens of each species found in Utah illustrating dorsal Bean Museum. They have been very and ventral surfaces of both males and females. helpful in providing space, drawers, computers, printers, references and other materials involved in the as Phoebis sennae and Chlosyne Utah subspecific names. Many Utah curation of this collection. I would californica, specimens collected from subspecies are quite distinctive in like to give a special thanks to Dr. bordering states have been used until their appearance and will be included Richard Baumann (Curator of Utah specimens can be obtained. in the new checklist. Representative ) and Dr. Shawn Clark specimens for these subspecies can (Collections Manager) for their Few moths have been donated to the then be added to the synoptic personal help and patience; especially collection. When considering the collection. for the many times when I have taken large number of known species over large sections of table space to from Utah, the collection is unlikely A list of current specimens found in work on the collection. Dr. Clark has to reach even 50% of the known moth the ULS Synoptic Collection is stated, “The ULS Synoptic species in the foreseeable future. accessible on the ULS Website at Collection has been a useful However, we will take as many as we www.utahlepsociety.org/ulscollectio reference on many occasions when can get. Moth collectors, as you tend n.html. This list is updated at least questions have arisen involving Utah your black lights this coming twice a year. The availability of this lepidoptera.” summer, I encourage you to pick a list on the ULS website should help few extra specimens off the sheets, contributors know which species are The goal is to build and maintain a spread and identify them if possible, needed and allow them to make synoptic collection containing every and bring them in to be added to the arrangements to obtain these species of lepidoptera found in Utah. collection. specimens during the collecting Each species is represented by four season. specimens, two males and two For identification purposes, the ULS females displayed dorsally and Synoptic Collection uses the official I encourage all ULS members to ventrally. Currently, 141 of 159 ULS checklist of the Lepidoptera of carefully study the list of specimens Utah published in Utahensis A butterfly species, 35 of 51 skipper in the synoptic collection. Look for Lepidoptera Journal Vol 10 Issue 1, those species that are missing, and species and 181 moth species are Winter 1990 and revised in July 1996. represented by at least one specimen A taxonomic naming committee made keep them in mind as you collect this in the collection. Specimens up of interested ULS members is being coming season. collected in Utah are given top formed to create a new checklist of priority. For a few accidental species Utah lepidoptera. The new revision will Alan R. Myrup that have been recorded in Utah, such be updated with currently accepted ULS Synoptic as well as a complete list of Collection Manager

12 Orangetips the lower basal leaves of the diapause from one to four years continued from p 9 hostplant and placing stalks in a depending upon subspecies, habitat, collecting mature larvae generally is water bottle. Lab hostplant, which and lab conditions. not. Ova should always be separated should be one of their documented into individual solo cups in order to larval foodplants, generally needs to Editor’s Note: The above article is avoid larval cannibalism. Once be replaced every six to seven days. the edited version of a more complete newly-hatched larvae have eclosed, Like other Pierinae, orangetip larvae article found online at they should remain relatively isolated darken right before pupation allowing http://www.utahlepsociety.org/antho from other hatchlings and carefully you to place them in a suitable place charistips.html. The online version placed on the hostplant flower heads for pupation. Because of the average also contains hyperlinks showing in order to start feeding. rainfall of northern Utah’s Upper pictures of the many plant species Sonoran life zones, Anthocharis mentioned. The best rearing setup should employ pupae generally extend their winter an open terrarium method; pruning

A Tiger Moths (Arctiidae) of Utah 2004 by Robert C. Mower

I have always enjoyed looking back over the previous year’s collecting experience. During 2004, collecting was done on fifty days between 18 March and 1 October. However, a hard frost basically stopped potential late fall light collecting in the Wasatch Mountains just after mid September. In 2004, a total of thirty species were collected, the earliest on 20 March and the latest on 1 October. For each species, I have listed the date, species name and county of the first specimen I collected in Utah during 2004. (Note: Ectypia clio, was collected in Nevada.). Kodiosoma otero was collected as a larva and Parasemia plantaginis, a diurnal species, was collected during the day. The rest were collected as adults at lights. Our current state checklist contains fifty-three well documented species and six additional ones with limited data.

Tiger Moths (Arctiidae) Species Collected in Utah During 2004

Date Species Name County Date Species Name County 20 Mar Kodiosoma otero (larvae) Wa Co. 2 Jul Parasemia plantaginis SJ Co. 8 Apr Ectypia clio NV: Cl Co. 2 Jul Hemihyalea labecula Gr Co. 8 Jun Pyrrarctia isabella Ut Co. 2 Jul Bruceia hubbardi Gr Co. 8 Jun Spilosoma virginica Ut Co. 2 Jul maculata Gr Co. 18 Jun williamsii Ut Co. 5 Jul Cisseps fulvicollis Ut Co. 25 Jun Hypercompe permaculata Sa Co. 8 Jul Lycomorpha grotei Ui Co. 25 Jun Holomelina fragilis Sa Co. 8 Jul Cisthene barnsii Ui Co. 1 Jul Crambidia cephalica SJ Co. 8 Jul Bruceia pulverina Ui Co. 1 Jul Hypoprepia inculta SJ Co. 15 Jul Hypanthria cunea Ju Co. 1 Jul Hypoprepia cadaverosa SJ Co. 22 Jul Notarctia proxima Ut Co. 1 Jul Holomelina costata SJ Co. 24 Jul Grammia parthenice Sa Co. 1 Jul Grammia f-pallida SJ Co. 5 Aug Grammia nevadensis Pi Co. 1 Jul Grammia geneura SJ Co. 7 Aug Gnophaela vermiculata Sa Co. 1 Jul Lophocampa argentata SJ Co. 12 Aug Grammia obliterata Ui Co. 1 Jul Arachnis citra SJ Co. 12 Aug Arctia caja Ui Co.

13 Contents of this Issue

Page Extreme Southwest Utah Could See Iridescent Greenish-blue Flashes A Little Bit More Frequently by Col. Clyde F. Gillette ...... 1

Fundamental differences between the California Sister and the Arizona Sister (Adelpha bredowi californica vs. Adelpha bredowi eulalia) by Todd L. Stout ...... 3

Utah Lepidopterists’ Society Co-Founder Receives Prestigious Highest Award by Col. Clyde F. Gillette ULS President...... 4

The Challenge of Raising Northern Utah Orange-Tips (Anthocharis stella browningi and Anthocharis sara thoosa) by Todd L. Stout ...... 5

Collecting Alpine Butterflies in the Uinta Mountains of Northeastern Utah by Alan R. Myrup ...... 10

The Utah Lepidopterists’ Society Synoptic Collection by Alan R. Myrup ULS Collections Manager...... 12

A Tiger Moths (Arctiidae) of Utah 2004 by Robert C. Mower...... 13

Contents of this Issue ...... 14

Correction Notice: Reference: Utah Lepidopterist Bulletin Volume 10 Number 2, page 2, 13th line up from the bottom: “south of Hogan’s Pass along Utah . . “ Should read: “north northeast of Hogan Pass on the northwest side of Utah . .” ULS Bulletin Editor

The ULS website address is www.utahlepsociety.org The Utah Bug Club address is www.utahbugclub.org

Annual Membership in the ULS can be had by sending ten dollars to: Sec/Tres John L. Richards, MD at 9708 South 2740 West, South Jordan, Utah 84095 Ph: (801) 253-3442

Active members receive our bulletin Utah Lepidopterist usually published twice each year.

14