Monday, October 23, 2006

Cloudless Sulphur in Malibu

While the buttterflying is winding down for the season in the Santa Monica Mountains, there is always time for a surprise sighting. Yesterday while driving on PCH near Point Dume, I noticed a male Cloudless Sulphur flying around some large cassia (Senna sp?) bushes.
If I have the time I always check a cassia at the entrance to Sycamore Canyon Campground for this species where I had seen one once in late summer. After the PCH sighting, I checked this spot out again, but no luck this time.
Although cassia isn't native to the Santa Monica Mountains, (or any of the cismontane Los Angeles area for that matter), many folks have planted this genus in the area attracting Cloudless Sulphurs and if we are lucky Sleepy Orange, as it is the foodplant of both species. Although it is relatively easy to see a Cloudless Sulphur at 45 MPH on PCH, the smaller Sleepy Orange could well be missed. Maybe next weekeend, I will have time to stop and park and check out those cassias a little more thoroughly.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

First sighting of Western Pigmy Blue in Wiley Canyon



Saturday was warm (mid-70's) and sunny (October 21) so I decided to check out the activity in Wiley Canyon. Wiley Canyon is located in Santa Clarita off of the Old Road near Calgrove Boulevard. It is on the eastern edge of the Santa Susana Mountains. I saw 3 Buckeyes, 2 Umber Skipper, 2 Fiery Skippers, one unidentified small orange skipper and 1 Large Northern Skipper. I also saw 1 Ringlet, 1 Acmon Blue and to my surprise, 1 Western Pigmy Blue. I had never before seen a Western Pigmy Blue in Wiley Canyon. In addition, this one was relatively large. Both Blues were nectaring on the same plant. Pictures of both are attached so that you can compare size by looking at the size of the butterfly relative to the size of the flower.

Paul A. Levine