Your Daily Dose of Sabino Canyon

Saturday, March 1, 2014

The Empress and the Skipper

Photo by Ned Harris 2/10/2014

Empress Leilia

Photo by Ned Harris 2/10/2014

Common Streaky-Skipper

Friday, February 28, 2014

If you've been in the canyon lately, you've probably seen this butterfly and flower combination. Sara Orangetip butterflies nectar on Fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia) flowers. They also nectar on plants in the mustard family. Their larvae eat mustard family plants; adult females lay their eggs on plants in that family.
In the insect world, generally speaking, adults have wings. If you see an insect with wings (like this butterfly), it's an adult. Adult are going to do what adults do, namely, reproduce. That's the end of their life cycle as individuals.
Butterflies go through 'complete' metamorphosis: eggs hatch to larvae (caterpillars); larvae eat and grow, then pupate. In the pupa stage, they cover themselves, take themselves completely apart, and rebuild. They emerge from the pupa (cocoon, chrysalis) as adults. With wings.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Puddling

Photo by Marty Horowitz 2/9/2014

Echo Azure puddling on moist horse scat.

Photo by Ned Harris 2/10/2014

A whole herd of Reakirt's Blue butterflies on - you guessed it - fresh horse scat. Puddling is pretty common in the butterfly world. It's a way for many species to get necessary nutrients and amino acids.
One animal's scat makes another fat. Okay, that was bad. One animal's poop is for another to scoop. Possibly worse. If you've got a better pun, send it in.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Hungry Gilas

Marty writes:

FYI, you were right about the Gila Monsters being out early and in force. I came across two (in different locations) today with a group of 1st graders on their nature walk. They got pretty excited. I don't carry my "big" camera when teaching elementary kids (they deserve my full attention), but pack a point-and-shoot, just in case. So pardon the resolution :-)

Photo by Marty Horowitz 2/25/2014 - Gila One

Photo by Marty Horowitz 2/25/2014 - Gila Two

Anne says: Gila Monsters store fat in their tails. (Most other lizards can detach their tails to escape predation; not so the Gila Monster. Their tail is too important.) The two pictured have relatively skinny tails (especially Gila Two). That means they now have very little fat to draw on for fuel. Those first graders must have looked mighty tempting...

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Birds you don't see everyday

Dancing Snake Nature Photography 2/12/2014

Cedar Waxwings are some of the most beautiful winter visitors to Sabino Canyon.

And Rene of Dancing Snake Nature Photography recently had a photo in Arizona Highways Friday Fotos !!

Monday, February 24, 2014

Yes, it's a flower

Photo by Gene Spesard 2/12/2014

This is the flower of the Pipevine plant (Aristolochia watsonii). The larvae (caterpillars) of the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly eat this plant; but it's toxic to the rest of us.

And a correction from Fred Heath about the wasps in the mantis egg casings.