Settling In
The long hiatus from posting here can be attributed to the pure exhaustion of packing up everything one owns and then unpacking it all again within a very short time frame. The rewards, however, are great. It was a smooth move, really, and we had the most perfect weather. Our first morning we woke up to sunrise over the Dragoons.
It got even better after this. A pair of Great Horned Owls flew across the back of the house and landed on the roof where they engaged in quite a conversation. Then one of the owls flew down to the swimming pool and landed on one of the rocks where it sat for a good five minutes. Had I been able to locate a telephoto lens and flash, I might have gotten a photo but we just had to settle for a beautiful memory. Since then we’ve heard the owls calling in the evening along with a Common Poorwill.
The hummingbird feeders have been very popular with Black-chinned, Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds, all on their way to Mexico for the winter. I’ve noticed in the past few days fewer birds than last week when we saw as many as 8 at a time.
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)
We continue to be amazed at the scenic views we enjoy here. The west side of the house looks out at the distant Whetstone Mountains and the foreground reminds me of African savanna.
View to the West
Moving Day At Last!
It’s the eve of the Big Day — tomorrow morning the movers arrive and by afternoon we’ll be on our merry way to the next county over and our new house in the Dragoon foothills. We’re so glad we had a whole year to experience the Sonoran Desert and look forward to many more visits to this special place. Adios Tucson!
Sunset at Starr Pass, Tucson
Published by Arlene Ripley on September 24th, 2008 Tagged Nature | 1 Comment »
Plain-capped Starthroat
I just couldn’t resist a quick visit to the Paton’s feeders in Patagonia this morning (any excuse to avoid packing!) hoping to see both the Plain-capped Starthroat, Heliomaster constantii (life bird #575) as well as a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, a rare visitor to Arizona but a bird I am highly familiar with having lived in the East for 19 years. Another target was the elusive Sinaloa Wren, Thryothorus sinaloa, that wandered up from Mexico, at the Nature Conservancy’s Patagonia-Sonoita Preserve just up the road from the Paton’s. The wren vocalized about an hour before I got there and then was a no-show. Can’t win ‘em all.
Plain-capped Starthroat (Heliomaster constantii)
The starthroat’s normal range is from Mexico to Central America. It prefers insects to nectar so patience is necessary while waiting for it to show up at a feeder. The constant activity and bickering among the many hummers at the Paton’s feeders and morning light made photography difficult. The Ruby-throat was so busy defending a feeder that I never did get a decent photo of it. Other hummingbirds present were three Violet-crowned, many Black-chinned and Broad-billed, plus Anna’s, Calliope, and Rufous. Very enjoyable morning!
Okay, back to packing.
Published by Arlene Ripley on September 15th, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Birds, Mammals, Nature | Comment now »Packing Up and Yard Observations
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This could be my last post from Tucson. Our house is just about ready for occupancy and we’re very excited. The downside is the packing. So, as a pleasant way to avoid boxing up more stuff, I’ve decided to bring things up-to-date on yard happenings.
Tecoma stans ‘Orange Jubilee’
One of the native shrubs that grows in the yard here in Tucson, that we’ll be planting in the Dragoons, is Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans var. angustifolia) and the orange flowered variety ‘Orange Jubilee’ (which is actually my favorite and the subject of most of this post).
Tecoma stans ‘Orange Jubilee’
Belonging to the Bignoniaceae Family, which includes Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis), the nectar-rich flowers are insect magnets plus it’s a host plant for the Rustic Sphinx Moth (Manduca rustica).
Rustic Sphinx Moth caterpillar (Manduca rustica)
These caterpillars can get as thick as a man’s thumb and exceed 4 inches in length. The “horn” at the rear end is why these caterpillars are sometimes called hornworms. The caterpillar above was not happy about being disturbed and was rearing up to make itself look even larger to scare me off. This posture is how the moths in this family came to be called Sphinx Moths. If all goes well and the caterpillar is not infested with parasitic wasps like every single caterpillar I tried to rear last summer, it will eventually leave the host plant to look for a place to pupate. This wandering is how I collected most of my caterpillars last year — they were all rescued from certain death as they crossed a busy road.
A few weeks ago, another road rescue successfully made the transition to pupa. The caterpillar excavated a shallow tunnel in loose soil and constructed a protective shell of hardened soil. I don’t know how it does this because it’s hard to see what’s going on underground, even in a terrarium. After a few days of inactivity, I could see that the green caterpillar had turned into a shiny brown pupa with the shed skin next to it. I made a careful excavation of the cavity and found this:
Rustic Sphinx Moth pupa
Notice the long extension at the top of the pupa. It’s the future proboscis (mouth part) of the adult moth. Rustic Sphinx Moth adults have a very long proboscis. This enables them to feed from long tubular flowers that other insects can’t get to. So for now my story ends. The pupa will overwinter and next spring I hope to show you an adult moth.
There are many more insects that visit the Tecoma stans shrub and I thought I’d show you some of them.
I mentioned above that the Rustic Sphinx Moth has a long proboscis so it can feed from long tubular flowers. Other insects have figured out how to raid these flowers for nectar even though they have very short mouthparts. It appears that bees are capable of making a slit at the base of the tubes right where the nectaries are located. I’ve never seen a bee actually doing this but they are the most frequent visitors to the flowers. Notice the honey bee below sipping nectar.
Honey Bee raiding flower for nectar
I suspect the real culprits may be the large, jet black Carpenter Bees that also frequent the flowers. Their mouthparts could probably easily slit the flower.
Carpenter Bee — slit-maker in action?
Other nectar-loving insects take advantage of this easy nectar source, including butterflies. For the last month or so the Tecoma shrubs have been loaded with American Snouts (Libytheana carinenta).
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
One morning I was more than pleased to find two Great Purple Hairstreaks at the slits. Their larvae feed exclusively on mistletoe which is pretty common in mesquite trees. The hairstreaks are not so common however.
Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus)
Hairstreaks rarely land with open wings so a glimpse of that bright metallic blue on the uppersides can only be seen when they fly. You can get the idea from this artsy flight shot.
Great Purple Hairstreak on the wing
My first migrant Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) showed up at the Tecoma flowers. Unlike the “cheaters” who don’t enter the flower the “right” way and help with pollination, the Rufous gives evidence that it’s been quite an effective pollinator judging by the yellow coating of pollen on its bill.
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
You might think you have to get into a car and drive some miles before you can enjoy nature. Not so. Perhaps you could just sit by a flowering plant for an hour or two and see what you can find. You might be surprised!
Published by Arlene Ripley on September 14th, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Birds, Butterflies, California, Insects, Mammals, Moths, Nature, Plants, Tucson, Wanderings | Comment now »Calliandra, Blue Butterflies & Ants (conclusion)
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In the last post we left off with mature chrysalids. Now we will watch a butterfly eclose (emerge). In the first photo, if you look carefully at the left side of the chrysalis, you can see it beginning to split open.
Eclosure begins
As the butterfly pushes out of its tight enclosure the antennae pop up and the first free legs aid in the escape process.
Pushing with all its might
The now free butterfly flips itself upright and starts looking for a perch so when the wings expand they will be free of any obstruction. They are very delicate and vulnerable at this point.
A clean escape! Male Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
The wings expand as the butterfly pumps fluid into them. In the case of these small blue butterflies, this happens quite rapidly.
Expanding wings
In a matter of minutes the wings are fully expanded and in less than 15 minutes the butterfly is ready to fly off. This is much faster than the larger butterflies like swallowtails and Monarchs who sometimes hang for several hours after eclosure .
Male Marine Blue (Leptotes marina), ready for flight
Newly eclosed Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) on Buddleia marrubifolia
Calliandra, Blue Butterflies & Ants (part 4)
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After several weeks of dining on Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica) flower parts, the caterpillars reach the last instar stage. From a mere speck on the plant, they have grown to an average of 13 mm. Eating ceases. Chemical changes are taking place inside and the caterpillars begin to wander about looking for a safe place to pupate. After a period of inactivity (at least outwardly), the body begins to pulsate and the the skin splits. What we have known as the caterpillar now morphs into a smooth, somewhat waxy looking pellet called the chrysalis. Inside this structure is where the magic happens. If the caterpillar was healthy (no bacterial, viral or parasitic infection) in a week or so, a butterfly will emerge.
Last instar measuring about 13 mm, Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)
Fresh chrysalis with shed skin, Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)
A sign that the butterfly is about to emerge is the darkening of the chrysalis which occurs approximately 24 hours before the butterfly ecloses. Notice how you can see the wings and how the male’s wings are a much brighter blue.
Mature chrysalis of a female Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
Mature chrysalis of a male Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
In the next and final post in this series, the butterflies will be seen eclosing from their chrysalids.
Published by Arlene Ripley on September 5th, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Tucson | Comment now »Calliandra, Blue Butterflies & Ants (part 3)
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Most members of the family Lycaenidae exhibit a relationship with ants referred to as “myrmecophily” which means “ant-loving.” When the Ceraunus Blue/Marine Blue caterpillars reach the third instar they are apparently now large enough to form this association with ants. While at the North American Butterfly Association Spring Meeting in 2007, Harvard professor Naomi Pierce gave a riveting lecture on this relationship. I was determined to observe this phenomenon myself. Luckily several species of Lycaenidae were reproducing right outside our front door.
First I found a caterpillar and then waited for ants to find it. It didn’t take long to find this:
Ants tending a Ceraunus Blue caterpillar
The caterpillars measure about 5 mm at this stage so the ants are very tiny and are probably sugar ants since they were also observed visiting the flowers. The ants seem to be drawn to the rear end of the caterpillar so I did some research and found the following interesting information: these butterfly larvae all contain single-celled epidermal glands (pore cupola organs) which are thought to secrete substances which pacify ants. The word “pacify” seems to imply that the ants might otherwise consider the caterpillar a prey item. Second, the seventh abdominal segment of these caterpillars contains a “dorsal nectary organ” which secretes a nutritious substance for ants. There seems to be a mutual relationship here — the caterpillars provide nutrition for the ants, thus protecting themselves from becoming a meal for the ants. The ants, in turn, leave the caterpillars alone and also provide protection from other predators.
Ants partaking of a caterpillar’s sweet offering
The relationship gets even more interesting with the involvement of a third, sometimes visible structure called the “tentacle organ.” This organ is “eversible” extending out from the body when the caterpillar needs it and retained inside when it doesn’t. In the photo above you can just see the two whitish spots that resemble eyes near the end of the body. The ants are feeding just above them. In the photo below, you can see the tentacle organs expanded.
Tentacle Organs
The tentacle organs also secrete substances that attract ants but do so only when the caterpillar is alarmed. In my observations it seemed to be a distraction tactic. Whenever the ants went to the head area of the caterpillar, the tentacles were raised and the ants rushed down for their reward. This could be a way to keep the ants occupied and away from the “business” end of the caterpillar.
Ants occupied at the tentacle organs
Notice in the photo below one ant is at the head area while the other is going down to the extended tentacles.
If you’d like to read Dr. Pierce’s paper (The Ecology and Evolution of Ant Association in the Lycaenadie) on this relationship, here’s the link.
Published by Arlene Ripley on September 2nd, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Tucson | Comment now »Calliandra, Blue Butterflies & Ants (part 2)
(click on a photo to enlarge)
After a few days of incubation, the eggs began to hatch. The caterpillars of Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) and Marine Blue (Leptotes marina), the two species I observed ovipositing on the Calliandra (Baja Fairy Duster), are virtually identical so it’s impossible to distinguish one from the other in the following photos. There is also great color variation in these caterpillars. It appears that they can change color to blend with their environment.
The tiny yellow-green caterpillars are all but invisible on the flower buds. It helps to have a hand lens available when searching for them. Some of the photos below were taken of hand-raised caterpillars and others were in the wild. Like most newly-hatched caterpillars, their first meal is their egg shell. Then they begin consuming the flower buds.
Tiny caterpillar near center of photo
Close-up
The flowers are the only part of the plant that the caterpillars eat. As the buds open, they eat the petals and stamens. As the caterpillars grow they shed their skins and become more colorful. It seems no two look alike! Can you see more than one caterpillar in this photo?
Here’s a caterpillar that blends nicely with a spent flower head.
Here’s one that stands out but would be less easy to spot if it were inside the petals.
Here’s a close-up of the black head which is usually kept curled under and hidden.
Next, you’ll see the amazing relationship these caterpillars have with ants.
Published by Arlene Ripley on August 29th, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Butterflies, Insects, Nature | Comment now »Garden Canyon, Ft. Huachuca — A Naturalist’s Paradise
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Last Saturday I tagged along on an Arizona Native Plant Society field trip to the famous Garden Canyon on the Ft. Huachuca Army installation. Well known for its fabulous birding, the Canyon is also a mecca for naturalists interested in just about any type of flora or fauna. For most of the group it was plants, for me it was bugs and birds although birding is pretty slow when you don’t start until 10 AM. Our first stop was the grasslands along the road leading up to Garden Canyon.
There were abundant flowering plants in the grasslands and they were rich with insects. I first noticed hundreds of Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia) butterfly caterpillars on the yellow sunflowers.
Several interesting beetles were seen such as this Blister Beetle (Megetra sp.) found only in the Chihuahuan Desert,
as well as this oddly named Pleasing Fungus Beetle (Gibbifer californicus).
Tucked in among the grass stalks were several pair of mating Robber Flies. At least I think they were mating. Being carnivorous, the bottom one might just be a meal!
Of course this is but a small sampling of the insect life in the grasslands.
Next we began the somewhat bumpy but beautiful drive up Garden Canyon. Oaks were joined by sycamores, madrones, junipers and pines. It’s easy to see how this canyon got its name — perennial streams feed the canyon and keep it lush and green year-round.
Clouds began to roll in and by mid-afternoon the skies were gray and some distant thunder was heard.
Fortunately the rain held off and the sun peeked in and out for the remainder of the day. My target insects in the canyon were butterflies and I was not disappointed. This is a great spot for Arizona Sister (Adelpha bredowii), a beautifully patterned large butterfly in the Brushfoot (Nymphalidae) Family. They are often seen “puddling” at the edge of wet mud which is usually the easiest way to photograph them.
Arizona Sister (Adelpha bredowii)
Arizona Sister (Adelpha bredowii)
Another beautiful large butterfly is the Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata). One of its caterpillar hostplants is Arizona Sycamore which is plentiful in the canyon. The much sought after Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans) also nests in these sycamores although none were seen on this day.
Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)
Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)
A major highlight for me were the two “life” butterflies I found. The first was the largest spread-wing skipper I’ve ever seen — the brilliantly marked Dull Firetip (Pyrrhopyge araxes) which is anything but dull when you see the underside of its wings. This butterfly was especially common wherever Mexican Star Thistle (Centaurea rothrockii) was in bloom. The larvae of this butterfly feed on Arizon White Oak and other oaks.
Dull Firetip (Pyrrhopyge araxes) on Matchweed (Xanthocephalum gymnospermiodes)
Dull Firetip (Pyrrhopyge araxes) on Mexican Star Thistle
My second great find was a single, slightly worn Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela).
Zela Metalmark (Emesis zela).
My butterfly list for the day tallied 26 species including Nabakov’s Satyr, Red-spotted Purple, American and Painted Lady, Spring Azure, Ceraunus and Reakirt’s Blue, Orange Sulphur and Tailed Orange.
What’s not to like about Garden Canyon?!
Published by Arlene Ripley on August 26th, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Birds, Butterflies, Cochise County, Insects, Nature, Plants, Wanderings | Comment now »
Calliandra, Blue Butterflies & Ants (part 1)
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Calliandra californica, commonly known as Baja Fairy Duster, grows in our courtyard. It has delicate, feathery leaves and brilliant red bottlebrush-shaped flowers. It is also the caterpillar host plant for some members of the Lycaenidae or Gossamer-wings Family of butterflies.
Calliandra californica (Baja Fairy Duster)
I’ve observed three closely related species nectaring on the Calliandra: Reakirt’s Blue (Hemiargus isola), Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) and Marine Blue (Leptotes marina). All three are common and fly year-round (weather permitting) in SE Arizona. Two of the above species were observed ovipositing (egg-laying) on the flower buds — Ceraunus Blue and Marine Blue. It is those two species that we’ll follow here from egg to adult. Since the eggs appear to be identical in shape and pattern, the following photo represents both species although they are actually Ceraunus Blue eggs. Notice how multiple, saucer-shaped eggs are deposited among the small, developing flower buds.
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) Eggs
Here’s another look at some eggs with a closer view showing the structure and intricate pattern of the egg.
Close-up of Ceraunus Blue Egg
It only takes few days for the egg to produce a tiny caterpillar, so stay tuned!
Published by Arlene Ripley on August 19th, 2008 Tagged Arizona, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Tucson | Comment now »
