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20 Aug Bugaboo Bugs -- ["Norbert Kondla" ] 16 Aug Colias Christina/Switzer PP, Hinton. ["naturalistbob60" ] 8 Aug A remarkable event/Speyeria ["Norbert Kondla" ] 2 Aug Speyeria zerene ["Norbert Kondla" ] 1 Aug Agriades and Speyeria ["Norbert Kondla" ] 30 Jul Northern Foothills Report ["Norbert Kondla" ] 30 Jul Northern Rocks Report ["Norbert Kondla" ] 30 Jul Speyeria edwardsii ["Norbert Kondla" ] 29 Jul Re: Speyeria edwardsii color morphs ["Chris" ] 29 Jul Re: Speyeria edwardsii color morphs ["frogkcdi" ] 28 Jul Speyeria edwardsii color morphs ["Norbert Kondla" ] 13 Jul Monday field report ["Norbert Kondla" ] 11 Jul Ditch-dawdling results ["Norbert Kondla" ] 09 Jul Silverspotted Skippers in Edmonton River Valley. ["naturalistbob60" ] 1 Jul Agriades sympatry ["Norbert Kondla" ] 27 Jun Butterfly report ["Norbert Kondla" ] 11 Jun Alpine question ["aaron_lang8" ] 26 May Azures ["Cris Guppy" ] 26 May Ice Age Butterflies ["Norbert Kondla" ] 11 May Exshaw field report ["Norbert Kondla" ] 4 May Pieris marginalis tremblayi ["Norbert Kondla" ] 4 May Pieris marginalis tremblayi ["Norbert Kondla" ] 21 Apr Tuesday field report ["Norbert Kondla" ] 19 Apr Spring butterflies ["Cris Guppy" ] 15 Apr Megathymus pics ["Norbert Kondla" ] 07 Apr Re:Spring Butterflies ["frogkcdi" ] 6 Apr Re:Spring Butterflies ["Norbert Kondla" ] 5 Apr Spring Butterflies ["Cris Guppy" ] 18 Sep The Highly-variable Cloak ["Norbert Kondla" ] 18 Sep Re: late season butterflies ["Cris Guppy" ] 18 Sep late season butterflies ["Norbert Kondla" ] 11 Aug insect ID [Barb Beck ] 5 Aug Northern Euphydryas ["Norbert Kondla" ] 3 Aug New Yukon butterfly ["Cris Guppy" ] 18 Jul Alaska butterfly pics -- ["Norbert Kondla" ] 06 Jul Help with butterflies near AK/Canada border ["Aaron Lang" ] 17 Jul New to Butterflying ["Aaron Lang" ] 14 Jul Hinton area butterflies [Barb Beck ] 1 Jul Trench Tour ["Norbert Kondla" ] 29 Jun Skippers in hillside clearings below U of A. ["naturalistbob60" ] 21 Jun Olympic Marble found in the Pinhorn Grazing Reserve. ["naturalistbob60" ] 21 Jun Butterfly field trip to Cadomin. July 11/12. ["naturalistbob60" ] 27 Apr Images of Ringlets and yellow Colias ["norbertkondla" ] 30 Mar Re: Butterfly predator [Bob Parsons ] 30 Mar Re: Butterfly predator ["Cris Guppy" ] 30 Mar Butterfly predator [Barb Beck ] 2 Feb Butterfly and other animal pics ["Norbert Kondla" ] 2 Feb Butterfly and other animal pics ["Norbert Kondla" ] 1 Jan Butterfly Documentary To Air on NOVA in January 2009 [Donald Davis ] 31 Dec Re: Some butterfly pics -- [Bob Parsons ] 23 Dec Some butterfly pics -- ["Norbert Kondla" ] 27 Oct Old butterfly literature ["Norbert Kondla" ] 07 Sep Re: Melanic Euphydryas ["jcolino2" ] 10 Aug Monarch Butterfly - Photo and Report - Lethbridge, Alberta [Donald Davis ] 9 Jul Request for Comments on Monarch Butterfly Population [Donald Davis ] 9 Jul Colias gigantea snippet ["Norbert Kondla" ] 09 Jul Redwater report [Norbert Kondla ] 07 Jul Clyde Fens Butterfly Count July 2. ["naturalistbob60" ] 02 Jul Euros enjoying Canada Day!! ["naturalistbob60" ] 25 Jun Return visit to U of A/river valley. ["naturalistbob60" ] 04 Jun Rocky Mountain Trench ringlets [Norbert Kondla ] 04 Jun British Columbia Mitoura [Norbert Kondla ] 4 Jun Re: Please report Western Canada Monarch Butterfly Sightings [Donald Davis ] 04 Jun Host plant ID problems solved. ["naturalistbob60" ] 04 Jun Butterflies of the Edmonton river valley. ["naturalistbob60" ] 19 May mixturata ringlets [Norbert Kondla ] 19 May mixturata ringlets [Norbert Kondla ] 19 May Ringlet Request [Norbert Kondla ] 19 May Ringlet Request [Norbert Kondla ] 19 May Ringlet Thank You [Norbert Kondla ] 19 May Ringlet Thank You [Norbert Kondla ] 14 May Blackish Erebia [Norbert Kondla ] 13 May butterfly specimen photography [Norbert Kondla ] 13 May butterfly specimen photography [Norbert Kondla ] 11 May Calgary - Inglewood - Satyr Anglewing [Wayne hewitt ] 04 May Calgary - Spruce Meadows [Wayne hewitt ] Subject: Bugaboo Bugs -- From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:17:40 -0600 The Purcell Mtns of SE BC are steep and heavily forested; consequently butterfly folks don't go there very often and thus there is a conspicuous dearth of records in the Butterflies of BC 2001 distribution maps for this area. Of course it is poor butterfly habitat anyway. On August 18 I took a drive up the Bugaboo Creek Forest Service Road on the east side of the Purcells and turned up the following: Basilarchia/Limenitis lorquini Ochlodes sylvanoides Phyciodes cocyta Polygonia faunus Polygonia gracilis Polygonia satyrus Nymphalis antiopa Clossiana/Boloria grandis (aka chariclea grandis) Pieris marginalis Speyeria hesperis Lycaena mariposa Colias minisni (aka pelidne minisni) Colias philodice Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Colias Christina/Switzer PP, Hinton. From: "naturalistbob60" <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:50:07 -0000 I have just started sorting out some samples from the area (permit in hand) and there certainly appears to be some variation. The females are of much interest, some are white! Page 136 of the book is of real interest! I might also have a Mormon that has a light brown area on ventral hind wing, not the usual light green gray. Subject: A remarkable event/Speyeria From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2010 11:16:53 -0600 This past Thursday a remarkable event happened. The cosmic forces were aligned for the first time this year: I had the day off work, it was mostly sunny, and there was a reasonable abundance and variety of butterflies in the Porcupine Hills, SSW of Calgary, Alberta. Too lazy/pressed for time to type up a list of critters encountered today. But I did post a plate of two Speyeria mating pairs that I found on previous trips to the Porcupine Hills this season. See file "Speyeria mating pairs.pdf" in the files section. Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Speyeria zerene From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 11:34:49 -0600 I added the file "some zerene.pdf" to the files section. Enjoy the pics --- Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Agriades and Speyeria From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 1 Aug 2010 09:44:48 -0600 I added a couple of new digital plates to the files section: "Some Speyeria mormonia variation.pdf" - a two pager "Some British Columbia Agriades.pdf" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Northern Foothills Report From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:13:15 -0600 2010-7-23; Heritage Highway NE of Tumbler Ridge, northeast British Columbia; foothills lodgepole pine forest Lycaena mariposa Speyeria hesperis Speyeria atlantis Colias interior Cupido (aka Everes) amyntula Plebejus scudderii (aka Plebejus or Lycaeides idas scudderii) Aglais milberti Clossiana grandis (aka Boloria chariclea grandis) Phyciodes cocyta Aricia (aka Plebejus) saepiolus Limenitis arthemis Pterourus (aka Papilio) canadensis Coenonympha inornata (aka C. tullia or california inornata) Glaucopsyche lygdamus Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Northern Rocks Report From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:49:14 -0600 2010-7-25; upper subalpine zone conifer forest and open herbaceous avalanche tracks/slope; mountain with no name W of Roman Mtn., SE of Tumbler Ridge, Rocky Mtns of northeast British Columbia bright sun but ice cold and gale force winds; had to keep my ski jacket on for some time while collecting Speyeria mormonia Pterourus (aka Papilio) canadensis Agriades megalo (aka A. glandon megalo, A. rusticus megalo) Pieris marginalis Plebejus (aka Lycaeides) anna Aglais milberti Parnassius smintheus Lycaena mariposa Clossiana (aka Boloria) astarte Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Speyeria edwardsii From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:51:26 -0600 Regarding Chris' question about edwardsii valves; I have not looked. It certainly is possible that what we are calling color morphs are not such. Too bad that the folks who rear butterflies spend so little time publishing their results. Rather little in the world of butterfly taxonomy surprises me any more. The many taxa commonly believed to be the polytypic species zerene have given me a huge pain in the neck my whole life. Speyeria taxonomy in general is not a done deal; ditto for many other purported butterfly species on our continent --- things are not at all as neat and tidy as they appear to be in the books and name lists :-) We continue to make our best guesses based on available information and decision criteria. Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Speyeria edwardsii color morphs From: "Chris" <drdn AT mail.utexas.edu> Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:47:40 -0000 Norbert, Interesting! Are there any differences in valve shape or details in the males. In this species the valvae have a little more character than others in the genus. ............Chris Durden --- In WCanButterflies AT yahoogroups.com, "Norbert Kondla" wrote: > > I placed in the files section a little graphic to illustrate the two > ventral hindwing color morphs of S. edwardsii in western Canada: > brownish vs greenish > See file 'speyeria edwardsii color morphs.pdf' > Good resolution in the pdf so if you want bigger than lifesize view, > then just crank up the viewing scale --- > > > Norbert Kondla > Calgary, Alberta > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Re: Speyeria edwardsii color morphs From: "frogkcdi" <frogkcdi AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:59:01 -0000 Remembering back into the ancient times when I was a teenager collecting in the Laramie Mtns. of Wyoming, I recall that edwardsii would once in a while throw out one of those "brown" morphs, but were normally the green type. Both Art Moeck and Paul Grey told us that coronis in that area sometimes threw out a green morph that might tempt one to call it edwardsii, but we never saw one, and thus were never so tempted. But coronis & edwardsii in that area were so unlike (at least to my eyes) that even if the former were greenish in the disc, it would never pass for the latter. Thanks for stirring up those memories, Norbert! -- Richard --- In WCanButterflies AT yahoogroups.com, "Norbert Kondla" wrote: > > I placed in the files section a little graphic to illustrate the two > ventral hindwing color morphs of S. edwardsii in western Canada: > brownish vs greenish > See file 'speyeria edwardsii color morphs.pdf' > Good resolution in the pdf so if you want bigger than lifesize view, > then just crank up the viewing scale --- > > > Norbert Kondla > Calgary, Alberta > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Speyeria edwardsii color morphs From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:50:56 -0600 I placed in the files section a little graphic to illustrate the two ventral hindwing color morphs of S. edwardsii in western Canada: brownish vs greenish See file 'speyeria edwardsii color morphs.pdf' Good resolution in the pdf so if you want bigger than lifesize view, then just crank up the viewing scale --- Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Monday field report From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:39:51 -0600 While parts of Calgary, Alberta were being pulverized by golfball-size hail yesterday; I was enjoying 3.5 hours of sun and butterflies in the Porcupine Hills south of Calgary. Some species encountered: Aricia (aka Icaricia, Plebejus) icarioides Cupido amyntula Aricia (aka Plebejus) saepiolus Pterourus (aka Papilio) canadensis Euphydryas anicia Chlosyne palla Phyciodes pulchellus Basilarchia (aka Limenitis) arthemis Colias christina Pieris marginalis Erebia epipsodea Coenonympha inornata Speyeria hesperis Speyeria mormonia Speyeria callippe Speyeria edwardsii Speyeria zerene Vanessa cardui Anthocharis julia (or sara or stella; pick yer poison - there are various arrangements to pick from) Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ditch-dawdling results From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:25:00 -0600 Some brief ditch-dawdling and seep-skulking on the morning of 9 July in the Eyrie Gap area west of Longview, AB turned up the following flutterbys, listed in no particular order: Phyciodes pulchellus Pyrgus centaureae Pieris marginalis Erynnis 'persius' Agriades megalo Carterocephalus 'palaemon' Polites draco Glaucopsyche lygdamus Aricia icarioides Euphydryas anicia Erebia epipsodea Aricia saepiolus Cupido amyntula Colias Christina Speyeria zerene Aricia 'lupini' Pterourus Canadensis Speyeria hesperis Speyeria callippe Aglais milberti Coenonympha inornata Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Silverspotted Skippers in Edmonton River Valley. From: "naturalistbob60" <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:01:44 -0000 Spent a couple of hours just below the U of A this afternoon, more birds than butterflies! I did come across 4/5 Silverspotted in a little clearing just above where the LRT comes onto the bridge. I could not find the licorice however? Subject: Agriades sympatry From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 10:32:45 -0600 Finding two Agriades taxa in sympatry in Alberta is not new information but I had not seen it for myself until this past Tuesday. Before the clouds chased me out of the area, I was pleased to find two males 'sitting' side-by-side at a roadside puddling spot west of Longview, Alberta. I placed the file 'Agriades sympatry.pdf' in the files section so those of you who are interested can see what they look like. Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Butterfly report From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:08:43 -0600 Not much to report so far this year. Weather has been almost completely uncooperative for me so far. However this morning I checked a weedy road allowance at the east boundary of Calgary and was intrigued to find freshly emerged Silvery Blues. These would normally be flying on the prairie in May. Normally the mountain populations fly earlier but this year ca. 20 April on a warm south facing mountain slope I turned up one. Rather backwards phenology :-) On 21 June north of Rocky Mountain House, AB I noted: Pterourus (aka Papilio) canadensis Erebia epipsodea Cupido (aka Everes) amyntula Aricia (aka Plebejus) saepiolus Coenonympha inornata Pieris oleracea Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Alpine question From: "aaron_lang8" <birdingak AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 07:42:55 -0000 On June 8 I photographed three Alpines near Nome, on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. All three were sunning themselves in the late morning sun on a rocky slope. I got good photos of the upper wing but was unable to see or photograph the under wing I'm a novice at this and am approaching the ID cautiously. I've posted photos in the folder "Alaskan Butterflies." I think that two of the butterflies may be Eskimo Alpine (Erebia occulta). I wonder if the third butterfly may be Four-dotted Alpine (Erebia youngi)? Would love to hear what the experts say. Thanks very much for any help. Best, Aaron Lang Homer, Alaska Subject: Azures From: "Cris Guppy" <cguppy AT quesnelbc.com> Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 08:30:21 -0700 Yesterday I found a nice patch of sunshine near Prince George, BC and spent 2 hours up to my calves in cold water -- a black spruce / Labrador tea / Sphagnum moss bog. I watched about a dozen ovipositions by Azure (Celastrina) females. A female would land on the tip of a branch of Labrador tea, and determine if it had a flower bud. If there was no flower bud, she flew off to the next branch. If there was a large flower bud, she stood near the top of it, curved her abdomen down the side of the bud, and shuffled sideways so that she circled around the top of the bud 2-3 times, that is, the tip of her abdomen went around the circumference of the widest part of the bud 2-3 times. She then backed down the side of the bud and laid an egg at its base. For small buds, less of the circling was done and she flew away without laying an egg. The impression was that she assessed the quality of the bud by measuring its circumference by moving the tip of her abdomen around it, and rejected small buds. This is appears to be a evolved specialized behavior, designed specifically for the unopened buds of Labrador tea. There are two phenotypes (at least) of Boreal Spring Azure (Celastrina lucia) in western Canada. The "Bog Azure", compared to "normal" C. lucia, is smaller and with the underside having a greyer ground colour on which the usual melanic pattern occurs, and lives in bogs. Both phenotypes were flying in the bog, so I caught all the females that oviposited, and collected a few eggs. I also collected a random sample of males and females that were flying through the bog -- which appeared to be a mix of the "upland" phenotype and the "bog azure" phenotype. Most, and perhaps all, of the ovipositing females were Bog Azures. I also caught an sample in the adjacent "upland" area, which also seemed to be a mix of phenotypes. I still need to pin the specimens to accurately sort them by phenotype. I had so much fun watching the Azures that I hardly noticed that my toes had gone knumb with cold. :) Cris Guppy Quesnel, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ice Age Butterflies From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 09:09:52 -0600 Apparently folks in many areas of the continent are getting out and enjoying the butterflies. My experience this year has been different. My Tuesday field report is in the files section, see file 'Ice Age Butterflies.pdf in the files section ---- Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Exshaw field report From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 18:41:26 -0600 Spent a bit of time today at and near Exshaw, Alberta; in the Rocks east of Banff. Despite another Ice Age spring in SW AB, turned up a few butterflies: Northern Willow Cloak Milbert's Tortoiseshell Boreal Azure Silvery Blue Hoary Elfin Brown Elfin Northern Marble Non-butterfly bonus of two groups of Rocky Mountain Sheep --- PS: there are still snow patches in the landscape both east and west of Calgary at low elevations ---- Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pieris marginalis tremblayi From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 4 May 2010 16:43:24 -0600 The Pieris taxon tremblayi lives in a part of the world where lepsters don't spend much time and there are rather few printed and internet images available. I put the file "Reicheli vs tremblayi.pdf" in the files section of this website. It illustrates/compares some females of tremblayi and the more often seen reicheli from further south ---- Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pieris marginalis tremblayi From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 4 May 2010 16:43:24 -0600 The Pieris taxon tremblayi lives in a part of the world where lepsters don't spend much time and there are rather few printed and internet images available. I put the file "Reicheli vs tremblayi.pdf" in the files section of this website. It illustrates/compares some females of tremblayi and the more often seen reicheli from further south ---- Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Tuesday field report From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:49:40 -0600 Spent a few hours on April 20 in the Eyrie Gap area of the Rocks west of Longview, Alberta. South facing bearberry-rich mountain slopes and roadside ditches. Butterflies encountered: Mourning Cloak Green Anglewing Satyr Anglewing Compton Tortoise Shell Milbert's Tortoise Shell Western Checkered White Two Banded Checkered Skipper Hoary Elfin Western Elfin Silvery Blue Boreal Azure The Pyrgus ruralis were interesting as the earliest Alberta flight date I am aware of. Alberta Butterflies 1995 reported 1 May as the earliest known flight date Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Spring butterflies From: "Cris Guppy" <cguppy AT quesnelbc.com> Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:51:58 -0700 I spent a couple hours today walking the dog along the power transmission line above Dragon Lake, on the edge of Quesnel, BC. Lots of Celastrina lucia flying, 1 Glaucopsyche lygdamus, 1 Anthocharis stella, a dozen or so Nymphalis antiopa and 6 Polygonia faunus. The "hibernators" are mostly quite worn -- they must have flown a lot in the fall. Spring has definitely arrived in the BC Central Interior. :) Cris Crispin S. Guppy, M.Sc., R.P.Bio. Consulting Biologist and Land Use Planner 4627 Quesnel-Hydraulic Road Quesnel, BC V2J 6P8 Canada email: cguppy AT quesnelbc.com phone: 250-747-1512 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Megathymus pics From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2010 09:38:56 -0600 The large, yucca-feeding skipper Megathymus streckeri was added to the western Canada butterfly fauna a few years ago. I have never had the pleasure of seeing this species in nature, yet. Have placed pics of a male from North Dakota in the files section of this website. See file 'Megathymus streckeri male.pdf' Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re:Spring Butterflies From: "frogkcdi" <frogkcdi AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:32:10 -0000 This has been a fairly mild winter here in NW Montana....the waterfowl which normally head waaaay south stayed here for the winter. Had large numbers of Canada geese hanging around. As far as butterflies go, I saw an N. milberti enjoying a warm day several weeks ago. It cheered me up considerably. Then another cold spell wandered in and put the brakes on. We are slowly warming up now. If the sun shines much today, I would expect to see some more hibernators taking advantage of the weather. -- Richard --- In WCanButterflies AT yahoogroups.com, "Norbert Kondla" wrote: > > Further to Cris' report, even in cold SW Alberta I can report that the > Cloaks were flying near Bragg Creek, AB this afternoon. Ordinarily in > the past I would not get excited about seeing a Northern Willow Cloak > (aka Mourning Cloak) but after two consecutive Ice Age springs in this > area and having recently spent a good deal of time learning about these > fascinating creatures; I don't mind admitting it was a rush to be out > in the real world without walking on snow and actually encounter some > wildlife again :-) > > > > > Norbert Kondla > > Calgary, Alberta > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re:Spring Butterflies From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2010 17:57:38 -0600 Further to Cris' report, even in cold SW Alberta I can report that the Cloaks were flying near Bragg Creek, AB this afternoon. Ordinarily in the past I would not get excited about seeing a Northern Willow Cloak (aka Mourning Cloak) but after two consecutive Ice Age springs in this area and having recently spent a good deal of time learning about these fascinating creatures; I don't mind admitting it was a rush to be out in the real world without walking on snow and actually encounter some wildlife again :-) Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Spring Butterflies From: "Cris Guppy" <cguppy AT quesnelbc.com> Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2010 23:32:36 -0700 On Saturday it snowed in the central interior of BC, but it has now melted away again. Today I saw two Mourning Cloaks and a Compton Tortoiseshell, so spring is still coming! Cris Guppy Quesnel, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: The Highly-variable Cloak From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:50:38 -0600 I placed a two page file in the files section of this discussion group. See file "Some antiopa variation.pdf" Page 1 shows some Cloak uppersides and page 2 explains 'how it was done'. Enjoy the pics --- PS: If anyone knows where I can lay my hands on Cloak specimens from Mexico or central America; and specimens from the eastern USA; please drop me a line -- Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: late season butterflies From: "Cris Guppy" <cguppy AT quesnelbc.com> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:41:04 -0700 In central BC, the spring and early summer were very cold and wet, resulting in very little butterfly activity until July. Then it turned hot and by late July all the flight seasons and abundances were normal. I did not have much time to spend looking for butterflies, but did find Colias gigantea on Hudsons Bay Mountain near Smithers (a significant NW range extension for central BC). I also did the first alpine collecting at Perkins Peak near Anahim Lake in west-central BC, where there were swarms of butterflies and lots of interesting records. Cris Guppy Quesnel ----- Original Message ----- From: Norbert Kondla To: 'WCanButterflies' ; 'Lepstalk' Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 8:16 AM Subject: [WCanButterflies] late season butterflies Butterfly populations in SW Alberta and SE British Columbia this year have been the lowest I have seen in 39 field seasons. I attribute this to Ice Age weather in this region. Some species have been very late in becoming visible as adults. Although I saw a few fresh Mourning Cloaks in Calgary in late July/early August; the mountain populations have been very slow indeed to show themselves. Individuals seen near Bragg Creek, west of Calgary, on September 14 and further south in the Rocks (Flathead FSR S of Corbin, BC) on September 15 were freshly emerged. Ditto for the Polygonia satyrus, faunus and gracilis. This is much, much later than I normally see fresh, non-hibernated adults making an appearance. Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: late season butterflies From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:16:14 -0600 Butterfly populations in SW Alberta and SE British Columbia this year have been the lowest I have seen in 39 field seasons. I attribute this to Ice Age weather in this region. Some species have been very late in becoming visible as adults. Although I saw a few fresh Mourning Cloaks in Calgary in late July/early August; the mountain populations have been very slow indeed to show themselves. Individuals seen near Bragg Creek, west of Calgary, on September 14 and further south in the Rocks (Flathead FSR S of Corbin, BC) on September 15 were freshly emerged. Ditto for the Polygonia satyrus, faunus and gracilis. This is much, much later than I normally see fresh, non-hibernated adults making an appearance. Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: insect ID From: Barb Beck <barb AT birdnut.obtuse.com> Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:40:14 -0600 A bug id site some of you might be interested in. Barb. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Albertabird] Fw: [BIRDCHAT] insect ID Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:48:11 -0600 From: Mike Mulligan Reply-To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com To: AlbertaBird Lifted from BirdChat . . . Mike Mulligan Calgary ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jerry Friedman" To: Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 8:40 PM Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] Western Mountain Bird & Butter Trip Some here might like to know about www.bugguide.net You can post photos there and people will identify them. You can also identify other people's. There are some real experts there, such as (bird connection) Eric Eaton, Kenn Kaufmann's collaborator on _Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. So far most of my photos have been identified in times ranging from a few minutes to a few months. BugGuide is easy to use, but if anyone wants any help with it, feel free to e-mail me. Jerry ------------------------------------ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Northern Euphydryas From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 08:25:38 -0600 Cris' posting about Euphydryas chalcedona showing up in Yukon prompted me to photograph some specimens and compile a little plate comparing some individuals from the most northerly Euphydryas taxa on our continent. See file 'Three Euphydryas taxa1.pdf' in the files section --- Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: New Yukon butterfly From: "Cris Guppy" <cguppy AT quesnelbc.com> Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 16:38:17 -0700 This summer I recorded the Chalcedon Checkerspot, Euphydryas chalcedona, for the first time in the Yukon, southeast of Tarfu Lake. There were 2 sites about 1 km apart, a rocky knob and a grassy slope, on 21 June 2009. The nearest previously records were from 2-3 sites near Atlin - as far as I know Norbert Kondla and myself are the only people to have collected the species there. I saw 2 or 3 flit through small openings in the regenerating pine forest (the area is an old burn) at a distance, without being able to see what they were. Then I found a rock knoll, and captured a couple there. Then a two more on a grass slope. One Anicia Checkerspot (Euphydryas anicia helvia) female was mixed in, so they fly together. They appear to be very sparsely distributed, and roam widely through the open pine forest. The species seems to be quite rare in the Atlin (BC) to Tarfu Lake (YK) area. Cris Guppy Quesnel, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Alaska butterfly pics -- From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:40:55 -0600 Nice pics Aaron !!! Colias: the nastes could be nastes although I suspect it is a thula due to the yellowish nature of the venter. The Alaska north slope has both species and even when one has specimens in hand the identification of some individuals can be tricky/open to different ident opinions. Erebia: I would go with E. lafontanei for the unknown alpine from Canning R Oeneis: The Plunge Creek arctic looks suspiciously like an Oeneis 'melissa' gibsoni. Not all arctics with white veins are white-veined arctics and not even all white-veined arctics have white veins :-) Dingy Fritillary: The dingy unknown frit is the real dingy thing. Clossiana (aka Boloria) improba improba. The nominate subspecies is normally highly melanic on upperside; in contrast to the more southerly subspecies which is mostly brighter/more orange on upperside. July 1 unknown frit: Looks to me like Boloria alaskensis (aka B. napaea alaskensis in most older literature) June 27 unknown frit: Clossiana (aka Boloria) freija works for me. Although the nominate subspecies name has been widely applied on this continent; in fact there is geographic variation (as well as the usual individual variation) and reference pics of individual specimens in books unfortunately don't do justice to what they look like in various areas Will be happy to be corrected if I goofed on these ident calls -- Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Help with butterflies near AK/Canada border From: "Aaron Lang" <birdingak AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:24:23 -0000 Hello, I'm new to this list serv so as suggested here are a few lines of introduction. I live in Homer, Alaska, have been birding for about 23 years and have recently been struck with a fascination for butterflies. I usually spend 30-40 days each summer in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in extreme NE Alaska. This is where my interest in butterflies began, with the sighting of a Northern Blue last summer. Since then I've been photographing every butterfly that I see and have been trying to learn their identities and a bit about each of them. Since this area is very close to the Canadian Border the best resource that I've found has been "The Butterflies of Canada" by Layberry, Hall and LaFontaine. I also rely on "Butterflies of North America" by Brock and Kaufman. This summer I've been stymied by the identifications of many of the species that I've seen and thought that some experts from Western Canada may be able to offer some help. I've posted a bunch of photos to http://www.birdingak.com/2009/07/05/arctic-butterflies/ Several species here I've felt confident enough to put a name on, but many I've left unidentified. I would welcome any comments or suggestions on any of these photos. Thanks very much. I'm looking forward to learning much from this group. Best, Aaron Lang Homer, Alaska Subject: New to Butterflying From: "Aaron Lang" <birdingak AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:44:33 -0000 Hello, I've been birding for over 20 years, but am pretty new to butterflying and brand new to this list. I live in Alaska and spent a lot of time birding, and more recently butterflying, near the Alaska/Canada border. Each year I spend about a month in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska and this summer I was able to photograph many butterflies there that were new to me. It has been difficult to find good photos of butterflies from this area and the best resources that I've found are the "Butterflies of Canada" and this listserv. Since I'm a novice at butterflying I've found many species excruciatingly difficult to identify--especially the fritillaries and the Colias species. So far I've left many species unidentified and many of the IDs that I have made are tentative and open to suggestions from experts. I don't know any folks interested in butterflies in my area and would love to hear what folks from Western Canada, where some of these species also occur, have to say about the identifications. I've posted a bunch of butterfly photos here: http://www.birdingak.com/2009/07/05/arctic-butterflies/ Any comments on the ID of any of the pics would be most welcomed. Thanks for your time and comments and for providing such a forum. Best, Aaron Lang Homer, Alaska Subject: Hinton area butterflies From: Barb Beck <barb AT birdnut.obtuse.com> Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:01:05 -0600 Usually good butterflies here. Take some valium along though. If you are not familiar with the area the Colias christina (Christina Sulphur) is evil although it is relative easy to id in the rest of the province. It can look like about every other colias on the planet. Males and females sometimes are classic at times but more often all white, yellow or almost all orange. They can have the halo around the hw spot about like a philodice as and some have small spots along the hind wing. Some you must carefully look at the wing shape to distinguish from a Pink-edged Sulphur (C. interior) Hinton is short distance W of the edge on Jasper NP (about an 45 minutes from the Jasper Townsite), Switzer is a PP a short distance NW of Hinton and Rock Lake is an area a little further NW of Switzer. Barb Beck Edmonton -------------------------------------------- We had a great day on Saturday at the Cardinal Divide Butterfly Count. The weather behaved mostly and we were joined by the enthustiastic Provincial Parks staff and the Edmonton Nature Club. Thanks to Scott Sunderwald for supporting the Whisky-jack butterfly counts. The upcoming Hinton, Rock Lake and Switzer counts (see below) will be great learning opportunities and the results contribute to the Alberta Butterfly Counts. Thanks to Bob Parsons and the Edmonton Nature Club for meeting up with us on Saturday and providing the burgers. Lets do it again next year! *2. Hinton, Rock Lake and Switzer Park Butterfly Counts - Sundays July 19, July 26 and August 2 *Bring lunch, appropriate outdoor clothes and if you have them a net, freezer pack, book, and short focus binoculars. Otherwise there will be extra nets and equipment provided. Come out meet the Park staff, learn the butterflies, take pictures and have fun! *Sunday July 19, Hinton*/ /- meet at Green Square at 9:00 am *Sunday July 26, Rock Lake*/ /- meet at Green Square at 8:00 a.m. or at the equestrian enclosure near the lake by 9:30 a.m. *Sunday August 2 , Switzer Park*/ /- meet at Green Square at 9:00 a.m. or at Kelley's Bathtub at 10:00 a.m. Beth MacCallum President, Whisky-jack Club Ph: 780 865-4906 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Trench Tour From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 09:07:10 -0600 Conditions have been really poor for butterflying in SW Alberta this year so I have not had much field time and rather little to report. However the past 2 days were spent under sunny skies in the southern part of the Rocky Mountain trench between Elko and Golden, BC. Butterflies were not as abundant as I have seen them in that area in the past but conditions were much better than what I have seen to date on the east side of the Rocks. Have not yet had time to curate the specimens but of particular note is a northern range extension for Coenonympha sweadneri west of Invermere where the east slope of the Purcell Mtns. meets the trench. Among other bugs flying were the Dark-edged Blue (Plebejus atrapraetextus) and those curious yellow Colias of southern interior BC that have been variously hypothesized to be C. alexandra pseudocolumbiensis, C. edwardsii or C. pseudocolumbiensis in the literature. I am still not sure what to make of them; except that considering them to be a subspecies of C. alexandra does not work for me at all. Speyeria season is underway there with hesperis, hydaspe, zerene and callippe found on 30 June. Seeing a wolf and some mountain goats on the way back was a bonus --- Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Skippers in hillside clearings below U of A. From: "naturalistbob60" <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:27:11 -0000 Full of anticipation Sunday afternoon for my bi-monthly visit to the river valley. Sunny but winds blew up after an hour and a half. Usual Blue suspects but no Crescents or Commas in the usual spots. What on earth is going on this year? Did manage to come across a dozen Hobomoks and a lone Silver-spotted but thats it. The Red-eyed Vireos and Clay-coloured outnumbered the butterflies! Tomorrow, Clyde Fens so stay tuned! Bob Parsons. Subject: Olympic Marble found in the Pinhorn Grazing Reserve. From: "naturalistbob60" <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:06:17 -0000 Whilst taking part in the 9th annual Milk River May Species Count, Curtis Manley found a nice Euchloe Olympia. I was counting in the Pakowki Lake area and found some interesting Ringlet samples (whilst taking a break) which I have forwarded to Norbert. Bob Parsons. Edmonton Nature Club Subject: Butterfly field trip to Cadomin. July 11/12. From: "naturalistbob60" <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:01:02 -0000 There appears to be a fair amount of interest in the upcoming field trip to Cardinal Divide area. As usual a count is being organised by the Whisky-Jack club and I am very keen to find Rockslide Checkerspot. Anyone who cares to join us is most welcome! Jim Lange will be taking care of the birding group joining us. I also believe there will be some plant study persons around! Bob Parsons. Edmonton Nature Club. vintagebob AT shaw.ca 780-488-1344 Subject: Images of Ringlets and yellow Colias From: "norbertkondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:20:30 -0000 For some Ringlet pics and some yellow Colias pics, see the following files now in the files section of this discussion group website: North American Coenonympha taxa.pdf Some Yellow Colias taxa.pdf Each file contains two pages of images. Norbert Kondla Subject: Re: Butterfly predator From: Bob Parsons <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:59:11 -0600 Cris Guppy wrote: >Shocking! Your book review had the worst possible effect on me ... I >immediately jumped onto the internet and ordered a copy. Crass sales SPAM at >its worst! Tssk! Tssk! :) Thanks for the note, it sounds like a great book. >:) :) > >Cris Guppy > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Barb Beck" >To: >Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 12:59 PM >Subject: [WCanButterflies] Butterfly predator > > > > >>Ok - I am REALLY cheating. As listowner I have given myself permission >>but have also as listowner have wacked myself on the head and yelled at >>myself for doing this but cannot help it because this is a really good >>book that many interested in the natural world would be interested in >>AND it is very very cheap. Please forgive me if you are offended But the >>book is really great and a fantastic deal. I only know about it because >>one of the authors sent me a free copy because he used two of my >>recordings. And some frogs do eat a butterfly once in a while don't they? >> >>I think this book and CD is something anybody with interest in the >>natural world would enjoy. It is a 344 page guide to the identification, >>behavior and calls of the Frogs and Toads of North America The book is >>wonderful book. It is loaded with fantastic pictures of all the frogs >>and toads – they are large and take up much more than half the book. The >>book is worth much more than its price for the pictures alone. Each frog >>and toad has a range map, its appearance is discussed, there is a >>description of range and habitat as well as behavior and voice. >> >>It has an excellent CD of the vocalizations of the frogs and toads. The >>70 minute fantastic CD is worth the price of the book. It is great for >>identification and If you have lived in other parts of North America you >>will be transported back to those places by the recordings or if it is >>still frozen where you live you can imagine spring. >> >>The authors of the book are Lang Elliott (known for the best collection >>of eastern bird songs - the Stokes Guide and other recordings), Carl >>Gerhards (a Professor of Biological Science at the U of Missouri) and >>Carlos Davidson (the director of environmental studies program at San >>Francisco State University). Do not be afraid of the text because a >>couple profs are on the list. It is very accessible. It is not >>overwhelming although very informative. >> >>The most shocking thing about the book is the price $16.95 at Amazon.ca >>($13.95USD on Amazon.com) for almost 350 pages of beautiful photos and >>information PLUS the 70 minute CD. Honestly if I saw this book in a >>store I would expect to pay at least twice as much and consider it a >>great deal. >> >>Please Note: I am not promoting Amazon. I only checked there to get >>the Canadian Price because the book is listed as $19.95 US and was >>really surprised that it was CHEAPER. >> >>So forgive me if you are offended by this post. I really have held back >>on a lot of other books and cheat far more often on the bird list. >> >>Barb Beck >>Edmonton >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>------------------------------------ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > >------------------------------------ > > > > > > Pssst, I ordered one too. Need to sort out all those calls or is it songs? Bob ------------------------------------ <*> PHOTO ALBUMS: http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/WCanButterflies/lstYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WCanButterflies/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WCanButterflies/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:WCanButterflies-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:WCanButterflies-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: WCanButterflies-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: Butterfly predator From: "Cris Guppy" <cguppy AT quesnelbc.com> Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:15:41 -0700 Shocking! Your book review had the worst possible effect on me ... I immediately jumped onto the internet and ordered a copy. Crass sales SPAM at its worst! Tssk! Tssk! :) Thanks for the note, it sounds like a great book. :) :) Cris Guppy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barb Beck" To: Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 12:59 PM Subject: [WCanButterflies] Butterfly predator > Ok - I am REALLY cheating. As listowner I have given myself permission > but have also as listowner have wacked myself on the head and yelled at > myself for doing this but cannot help it because this is a really good > book that many interested in the natural world would be interested in > AND it is very very cheap. Please forgive me if you are offended But the > book is really great and a fantastic deal. I only know about it because > one of the authors sent me a free copy because he used two of my > recordings. And some frogs do eat a butterfly once in a while don't they? > > I think this book and CD is something anybody with interest in the > natural world would enjoy. It is a 344 page guide to the identification, > behavior and calls of the Frogs and Toads of North America The book is > wonderful book. It is loaded with fantastic pictures of all the frogs > and toads – they are large and take up much more than half the book. The > book is worth much more than its price for the pictures alone. Each frog > and toad has a range map, its appearance is discussed, there is a > description of range and habitat as well as behavior and voice. > > It has an excellent CD of the vocalizations of the frogs and toads. The > 70 minute fantastic CD is worth the price of the book. It is great for > identification and If you have lived in other parts of North America you > will be transported back to those places by the recordings or if it is > still frozen where you live you can imagine spring. > > The authors of the book are Lang Elliott (known for the best collection > of eastern bird songs - the Stokes Guide and other recordings), Carl > Gerhards (a Professor of Biological Science at the U of Missouri) and > Carlos Davidson (the director of environmental studies program at San > Francisco State University). Do not be afraid of the text because a > couple profs are on the list. It is very accessible. It is not > overwhelming although very informative. > > The most shocking thing about the book is the price $16.95 at Amazon.ca > ($13.95USD on Amazon.com) for almost 350 pages of beautiful photos and > information PLUS the 70 minute CD. Honestly if I saw this book in a > store I would expect to pay at least twice as much and consider it a > great deal. > > Please Note: I am not promoting Amazon. I only checked there to get > the Canadian Price because the book is listed as $19.95 US and was > really surprised that it was CHEAPER. > > So forgive me if you are offended by this post. I really have held back > on a lot of other books and cheat far more often on the bird list. > > Barb Beck > Edmonton > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > > > ------------------------------------ <*> PHOTO ALBUMS: http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/WCanButterflies/lstYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WCanButterflies/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WCanButterflies/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:WCanButterflies-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:WCanButterflies-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: WCanButterflies-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Butterfly predator From: Barb Beck <barb AT birdnut.obtuse.com> Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:59:05 -0600 Ok - I am REALLY cheating. As listowner I have given myself permission but have also as listowner have wacked myself on the head and yelled at myself for doing this but cannot help it because this is a really good book that many interested in the natural world would be interested in AND it is very very cheap. Please forgive me if you are offended But the book is really great and a fantastic deal. I only know about it because one of the authors sent me a free copy because he used two of my recordings. And some frogs do eat a butterfly once in a while don't they? I think this book and CD is something anybody with interest in the natural world would enjoy. It is a 344 page guide to the identification, behavior and calls of the Frogs and Toads of North America The book is wonderful book. It is loaded with fantastic pictures of all the frogs and toads – they are large and take up much more than half the book. The book is worth much more than its price for the pictures alone. Each frog and toad has a range map, its appearance is discussed, there is a description of range and habitat as well as behavior and voice. It has an excellent CD of the vocalizations of the frogs and toads. The 70 minute fantastic CD is worth the price of the book. It is great for identification and If you have lived in other parts of North America you will be transported back to those places by the recordings or if it is still frozen where you live you can imagine spring. The authors of the book are Lang Elliott (known for the best collection of eastern bird songs - the Stokes Guide and other recordings), Carl Gerhards (a Professor of Biological Science at the U of Missouri) and Carlos Davidson (the director of environmental studies program at San Francisco State University). Do not be afraid of the text because a couple profs are on the list. It is very accessible. It is not overwhelming although very informative. The most shocking thing about the book is the price $16.95 at Amazon.ca ($13.95USD on Amazon.com) for almost 350 pages of beautiful photos and information PLUS the 70 minute CD. Honestly if I saw this book in a store I would expect to pay at least twice as much and consider it a great deal. Please Note: I am not promoting Amazon. I only checked there to get the Canadian Price because the book is listed as $19.95 US and was really surprised that it was CHEAPER. So forgive me if you are offended by this post. I really have held back on a lot of other books and cheat far more often on the bird list. Barb Beck Edmonton ------------------------------------ <*> PHOTO ALBUMS: http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/WCanButterflies/lstYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WCanButterflies/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WCanButterflies/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:WCanButterflies-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:WCanButterflies-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: WCanButterflies-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Butterfly and other animal pics From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 09:37:57 -0700 --- fyi Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta -----Original Message----- From: E-Fauna BC [mailto:klink AT interchange.ubc.ca] Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 3:37 PM To: klinka AT interchange.ubc.ca Subject: E-Fauna BC Photography News and Photo Call, February 1, 2009 *** * *An E-Fauna BC Photography Update, February 1, 2009* ** *Update...and a Photo Call* The photo galleries on E-Fauna BC are developing nicely, thanks to some great contributions by BC photographers. We now have more than 4000 photos published in the gallery, which translates into 670 gallery pages, and another 500+ photos waiting for review. Thanks to all of the 'E-Fauna photographers' for helping develop this significant component of the E-Fauna atlas site! The galleries are very heavily used by the public, students and researchers, by a number of magazine and newsletters editors, and by those developing interpretive material in parks, etc. We receive photos requests regularly, and one magazine editor recently told us that she goes to E-Fauna (and E-Flora) first when searching for photos. *Recent Updates to the Galleries * There have been some update to the functionality of the photo galleries. For example, while you can search the galleries using species scientific or common names, or you can call up all photos for a particular photographer, we have recently added the ability to search through the galleries using the photo ID #. This makes it easier to direct people to a specific photo. Also, we have recently installed a new drop down menu system in the galleries that should be more efficient. In our gallery menus, our biggest component is the insect section, which has its own menu button. Under the insect menu, we have just added a few new species groups to the drop down list (e.g. Hymenoptera, Coleoptera), and there are more to come in all sections of the menu. *What's Popular? *Based on the comments we receive, the "create your own photo gallery" feature is popular with many users. It helps considerably when you can put photos side by side to compare similar species. The galleries are being used primarily to help with species identification, but many users email to say they enjoy just browsing the different animals groups. *Recent Highlights* Here are some of the highlights of recent photo contributions to E-Fauna BC. Select the photographer's name from the drop down menu in the photo gallery pages to view their photos: 1) Our butterfly photo gallery now has 593 photos, of which 356 (60 gallery pages) were submitted by Norbert Kondla, making this a not only a substantial photo gallery for this group, but also an excellent source of archival information. Many of Norbert's photos are of butterflies in his collection. 2) Thanks to Robert Higgins, we now ant photos in the gallery. This is significant because ants are often so overlooked, and we are thrilled to be bringing a photo collection into the public eye. We are now looking into obtaining photos for other hymenoptera. 3) We now have 42 gallery pages, representing 249 photos, submitted by Ian Lane. Ian's photos cover beetles, butterflies, dragonflies, and more. We have many more of Ian's photos to publish once more species lists are incorporated into our databases. 4) Aaron Baldwin has submitted 233 photos (39 gallery pages) covering crabs and other marine invertebrates. He has particularly covered hermit crabs, a nice contribution! 5) Jamie Fenneman has submitted 169 photos (28 gallery pages) primarily of birds, but also some really good dragonfly photos. 6) Kristiina Ovaska has provided considerable coverage of both amphibians and land snails. She has submitted 170 photos (29 gallery pages). 7) Don't forget to check out Robert Forsyth's collection of land snail photos. Robert has sent in 44 photos (8 gallery pages) -- there are many beautifully photographed specimens. 8) David Shackleton has submitted a wonderful assortment of photos of birds and mammals (54 photos/9 gallery pages). His lynx photo is beautiful and is now posted on the E-Fauna home page (photo ID # 3393) . 9) Diane Williamson has sent in 239 photos (40 gallery pages) of various animal species that are common to BC and Ontario. *Photo Call* Even with all these great contributions, there are so many photos needed to cover all the faunal groups found in BC, and to give each species adequate coverage. Contributions welcome! Some of the coverage we are looking for includes small mammals, moths, marine mammals, fish (both freshwater and marine), shellfish, barnacle species, all tidal pool species, earthworms and more. These are groups where we presently have limited coverage. But browse through our galleries for each group to see what we have up so far, there are still a lot of gaps. Ideally we would like an array of photos for each species so users can obtain a good sense of the animal and how it might differ from similar species. We also would like to provide good coverage for SARA listed species, and presently are looking for photos of species such as Pacific Water Shrew, Townsend's Mole, and many more or our rare and endangered species. Subject: Butterfly and other animal pics From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 09:37:57 -0700 --- fyi Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta -----Original Message----- From: E-Fauna BC [mailto:klink AT interchange.ubc.ca] Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 3:37 PM To: klinka AT interchange.ubc.ca Subject: E-Fauna BC Photography News and Photo Call, February 1, 2009 *** * *An E-Fauna BC Photography Update, February 1, 2009* ** *Update...and a Photo Call* The photo galleries on E-Fauna BC are developing nicely, thanks to some great contributions by BC photographers. We now have more than 4000 photos published in the gallery, which translates into 670 gallery pages, and another 500+ photos waiting for review. Thanks to all of the 'E-Fauna photographers' for helping develop this significant component of the E-Fauna atlas site! The galleries are very heavily used by the public, students and researchers, by a number of magazine and newsletters editors, and by those developing interpretive material in parks, etc. We receive photos requests regularly, and one magazine editor recently told us that she goes to E-Fauna (and E-Flora) first when searching for photos. *Recent Updates to the Galleries * There have been some update to the functionality of the photo galleries. For example, while you can search the galleries using species scientific or common names, or you can call up all photos for a particular photographer, we have recently added the ability to search through the galleries using the photo ID #. This makes it easier to direct people to a specific photo. Also, we have recently installed a new drop down menu system in the galleries that should be more efficient. In our gallery menus, our biggest component is the insect section, which has its own menu button. Under the insect menu, we have just added a few new species groups to the drop down list (e.g. Hymenoptera, Coleoptera), and there are more to come in all sections of the menu. *What's Popular? *Based on the comments we receive, the "create your own photo gallery" feature is popular with many users. It helps considerably when you can put photos side by side to compare similar species. The galleries are being used primarily to help with species identification, but many users email to say they enjoy just browsing the different animals groups. *Recent Highlights* Here are some of the highlights of recent photo contributions to E-Fauna BC. Select the photographer's name from the drop down menu in the photo gallery pages to view their photos: 1) Our butterfly photo gallery now has 593 photos, of which 356 (60 gallery pages) were submitted by Norbert Kondla, making this a not only a substantial photo gallery for this group, but also an excellent source of archival information. Many of Norbert's photos are of butterflies in his collection. 2) Thanks to Robert Higgins, we now ant photos in the gallery. This is significant because ants are often so overlooked, and we are thrilled to be bringing a photo collection into the public eye. We are now looking into obtaining photos for other hymenoptera. 3) We now have 42 gallery pages, representing 249 photos, submitted by Ian Lane. Ian's photos cover beetles, butterflies, dragonflies, and more. We have many more of Ian's photos to publish once more species lists are incorporated into our databases. 4) Aaron Baldwin has submitted 233 photos (39 gallery pages) covering crabs and other marine invertebrates. He has particularly covered hermit crabs, a nice contribution! 5) Jamie Fenneman has submitted 169 photos (28 gallery pages) primarily of birds, but also some really good dragonfly photos. 6) Kristiina Ovaska has provided considerable coverage of both amphibians and land snails. She has submitted 170 photos (29 gallery pages). 7) Don't forget to check out Robert Forsyth's collection of land snail photos. Robert has sent in 44 photos (8 gallery pages) -- there are many beautifully photographed specimens. 8) David Shackleton has submitted a wonderful assortment of photos of birds and mammals (54 photos/9 gallery pages). His lynx photo is beautiful and is now posted on the E-Fauna home page (photo ID # 3393) . 9) Diane Williamson has sent in 239 photos (40 gallery pages) of various animal species that are common to BC and Ontario. *Photo Call* Even with all these great contributions, there are so many photos needed to cover all the faunal groups found in BC, and to give each species adequate coverage. Contributions welcome! Some of the coverage we are looking for includes small mammals, moths, marine mammals, fish (both freshwater and marine), shellfish, barnacle species, all tidal pool species, earthworms and more. These are groups where we presently have limited coverage. But browse through our galleries for each group to see what we have up so far, there are still a lot of gaps. Ideally we would like an array of photos for each species so users can obtain a good sense of the animal and how it might differ from similar species. We also would like to provide good coverage for SARA listed species, and presently are looking for photos of species such as Pacific Water Shrew, Townsend's Mole, and many more or our rare and endangered species. Subject: Butterfly Documentary To Air on NOVA in January 2009 From: Donald Davis <donald_davis AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 10:07:44 -0800 (PST) I have just received this message from Dr. Lincoln Brower, world renowned monarch butterfly researcher. While appreciating that monarchs are uncommon and very rare in many parts of western Canada, I thought some of you might enjoy viewing this documentary: "The long awaited US showing of "The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies" will be aired on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 8 pm on PBS.  !!! Lots of info at their website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/butterflies/ There's a two-minute online segment featuring our butterfly research buddies/heroes Drs Chip Taylor, , Lincoln Brower and Bill Calvert. Also included are an online interview with film maker, Nick de Pencier, a listing of monarch links and books and even a service to get an email reminder of its airing date. Please post this announcement to your local community (after checking your local PBS airing time) to school teachers, nature groups, scouts, church bulletins, local newspapers, etc. Lincoln Brower" For your information, this documentary was was originally entitled "Four Wings and a Prayer", after the book with the same title. Nova purchased the rights to this documentary, has shortened it and added new footage. "Four Wings and a Prayer" has won awards in Los Angeles and Houston, and most recently won in June 9, 2008 the Rockie Award for Best Wildlife and Natural History Program at the Banff World Television Festival. Please note that those living in Western Canada and NOT living near the U.S. border will probably need to rely on local cable or satellite television to watch this documentary on a Public Television station. Also please note that local PBS stations usually air a NOVA episode at least one more time after the initial airing (i.e. a 12 am viewing a few days later!), so check the viewing times for your local or cable PBS station. I had the pleasure of working with film maker Nick de Pencier in the making of this documentary. Don Davis Toronto, ON Subject: Re: Some butterfly pics -- From: Bob Parsons <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:01:18 -0700 Norbert Kondla wrote: > I have recently added some butterfly nature pics to the efaunaBC site: > > http://www.efauna.bc.ca/ > > Enter the gallery and search by photographer with my name to access 18 > 'pages' of butterfly pics pertinent to British Columbia > > Great stuff Norbert. I have a feeling the Butterflies of BC book is there somewhere but I cannot find it! Happy New Year. Bob Subject: Some butterfly pics -- From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias007 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:20:23 -0700 I have recently added some butterfly nature pics to the efaunaBC site: http://www.efauna.bc.ca/ Enter the gallery and search by photographer with my name to access 18 'pages' of butterfly pics pertinent to British Columbia Subject: Old butterfly literature From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:50:53 -0600 For anyone who has not yet found this gold mine of digital information: www.archive.org Among other things, one can download digital copies of the classic old multi-volume butterfly books produced by Edwards and by Scudder in the 1800's. This is much cheaper than spending thousands of dollars to buy them and much more convenient than going to a university library. Besides, not everyone lives near a university library that even has these books --- Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Melanic Euphydryas From: "jcolino2" <jcolino AT mixmail.com> Date: Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:52:26 -0000 Hi Norbert, Have do you know at what population those melanic specimensbelong to? Regards Jesus --- In WCanButterflies AT yahoogroups.com, Norbert Kondla wrote: > > Euphydryas populations show some remarkable aberrants. See files section of > wcanbutterflies for file 'melanic Euphydryas.pdf'. Images larger than > lifesize. Have not yet done dissections on this population or spread any > 'normal' specimens so I don't know if it is E. colon paradoxa or E. anicia > ssp. Present guess is paradoxa. A very nifty-looking insect, whatever it is > --- > > > > Norbert Kondla P.Biol., RPBio. > > Calgary, Alberta > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Monarch Butterfly - Photo and Report - Lethbridge, Alberta From: Donald Davis <donald_davis AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:33:03 -0700 (PDT) In Ontario, we are beginning to see the beginnings of typical westerly migratory flight for some monarchs. Record rainfall recorded here. I'd be interested in hearing about any other western monarchs sightings. Reports all across the country indicate late arrival this year and numbers not as great as last year: http://talkaboutwildlife.ca/talk/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=5819&p=30803&hilit=monarch+butterfly#p30803   Map of Lethbridge, Alberta (southern Alberta): http://tinyurl.com/5acho2 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Request for Comments on Monarch Butterfly Population From: Donald Davis <donald_davis AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 15:44:17 -0700 (PDT) Hello all: We are getting lots of mixed reports on the status of the monarch population. This condition is more common than not at this time of the year. In many areas mid July is between generations so judgements of the apparent size of the population are often difficult. Nevertheless, it would be nice to obtain your assessment of the population at this time - relative to your experience with monarchs during mid-season in previous years. All comments are welcome. Are there any data from 4th of July counts? Dr. Orley "Chip" Taylor, University of Kansas chip AT ku.edu -- Monarch Watch monarch AT ku.edu http://www.MonarchWatch.org/ Dplex-L:  send message "info Dplex-L" to Listproc AT ku.edu 1-888-TAGGING (toll-free!) -or- 1-785-864 4441 University of Kansas 1200 Sunnyside Avenue Lawrence, KS 66045-7534 Create, Conserve and Protect Monarch Habitats [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Colias gigantea snippet From: "Norbert Kondla" <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 09:52:26 -0600 One of the things that makes butterfly study so much fun for me is that I learn something new and interesting almost every day; from other interested people, from the literature and most importantly from visiting with the little creatures on their home turf. On 5 July I spent some time in the foothills WNW of Calgary, AB and was not surprised to encounter Colias gigantea in their normal shrub fen habitat. Fens are a common enough boreal peatland landscape feature/habitat. However when I stopped at a road crossing of the Ghost River I was surprised to see gigantea in a habitat that I had never thought of as gigantea habitat. Wet alluvial gravels of the braided stream with open mixed forest and smallish openings. Apparently the butterflies were happy to have the willow larval food plants present and did not care at all that the plants were growing on a non-organic substrate. "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Redwater report From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:12:00 -0600 Well, better late than never :-) Spring weather was generally miserable but I did manage to connect a few available days with suitable weather to enjoy the butterflies and on June 1 I found myself at the Redwater sand dunes NE of Edmonton. I snooped around/did some ditch-dawdling around the periphery of the natural area where it is OK to destroy the butterfly habitat with ATV's but not OK to kill some insects without authorization (which I have). Although I spent most of my life working for government in the natural resource management field I was never able to comprehend the logic flow in many regulatory decisions. Anyway, the action was limited but for unknown reasons I decided to take a look at an artificial (cleared from the forest) livestock pasture on private land south of the natural area. Here in this ostensibly 'degraded' habitat I found plenty of butterfly action. I found Euchloe ausonides using the Arabis. I had not seen this species in that area in ca. 30 years; apparently because I spent too much time in natural habitats. Also I discovered a robust population of Agriades 'rusticus', presumably breeding on the pygmy flower (Androsace). Previously I had only a few records of this species from this area. I put little tickey marks around the name rusticus because the current commonly repeated taxonomy of this genus in North America is unsatisfactory and the prairie/southern boreal populations don't agree with any described taxon. But most interestingly, after ca. 50 trips to the area since 1977, I was able to add yet another species to the list of the local butterfly fauna. I found one freshly emerged Oeneis alberta flying in the pasture. Otherwise, 'the usual suspects' were present, although in very low numbers; most likely in response to the abysmal spring weather. But Boloria bellona was flying in abundance in a small human-created clearing with an old building. I continue to marvel how adaptable many animals are to changes in their environment. A 'ruined habitat' for one species is an opportunity for population expansion for another species. It seems there is little waste in nature; almost everything gets used by some organism. "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Clyde Fens Butterfly Count July 2. From: "naturalistbob60" <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:27:47 -0000 Canadian Tiger Swallowtail 6. M Cloak 6. White Admiral 1. N Blue 30. Long Dash Skipper 2. Skipper fly-by 35. Atlantis 6. N Western 2. Silver bordered 5. W Meadow 1. Lesser Frit fly by 4. Greater Frit fly by 9. Silvery Blue 30. Blue fly by 100s. Ringlet 6. Sulphur fly by Many. N Crescent 10. Nice calm sunny day, great to find these after very little showing up in Edmonton valley system! Subject: Euros enjoying Canada Day!! From: "naturalistbob60" <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:40:37 -0000 Took a brief walk through the river valley system here in Edmonton and found hundreds of European Skippers behind the Royal Glenora Club. Also few Long Dash and many blues but as usual down there this year(?!)not much else. Today off to the Clyde fens area and nearby sandhills. Subject: Return visit to U of A/river valley. From: "naturalistbob60" <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:47:11 -0000 Nice sunny day around 20 degrees, visited the small hillside meadows below the University. All this recent rain and cool temperatures has definately taken its toll on the butterfly population. Hobomok Skipper 8. Western-tail Blue 20. Silvery blue many. N Crescent 1 (my first down there). M Cloak 1. Swallowtail 2. European Skipper 30 (behind Glenora Club) So where is everything else? Birds...many Tennesee, Ovenbird, 5 species of Sparrow, Least Flycatcher plus usual other suspects. Subject: Rocky Mountain Trench ringlets From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:47:07 -0600 The Rocky Mountain trench is a major landscape feature that defines the western boundary of the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia. I recently did some ringlet sampling there and will be doing more. A fun plate of some ringlets from the last trip is now in the files section of this discussion group website. See file 'Trench Ringlets.pdf' "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: British Columbia Mitoura From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:18:51 -0600 Another fun plate, this one of a couple of Mitoura taxa in files section, file 'SE British Columbia Mitoura.pdf' "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Please report Western Canada Monarch Butterfly Sightings From: Donald Davis <donald_davis AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 08:04:50 -0700 (PDT) We've had a cold wet May in Ontario, and very few monarch butterfly sightings.  Even milkweed growning near the Great Lakes has not grown very tall. Then, suddenly this past weekend, sightings from all over the province from Point Pelee east to Kingston and north to Muskoka. We're being invaded by monarchs! They should be arriving soon in Manitoba. I would appreciate hearing about your adult monarch sightings as well as egg and larva sightings from across Western Canada. The Western Canada monarch migration last spring and summer was spectacular, with sightings are far north as Edmonton, AB and Prince Albert, SK. Ontario sightings from the west side of James Bay! Thanks again Don Davis Toronto, ON P.S. Mrs. Norah Urquhart C.M., a member of the Order of Canada, along with her late husband, Dr. Fred Urquhart, recognized for one of the greatest entomological discoveries of the 20th century - the discovery of the monarch overwintering sites in Mexico - celebrates her 90th birthday on June 23/08. Visit Your Group Yahoo! Finance It's Now Personal Guides, news, advice & more. Women of Curves on Yahoo! Groups A positive group to discuss Curves. Share Photos Put your favorite photos and more online. . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Host plant ID problems solved. From: "naturalistbob60" <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:54:19 -0000 Lacking much of the experience of the posters here, I have always had problems ID-ing many of the host plants mentioned on this site and elsewhere!! Problem is partially solved with this site......> www.callutheran.edu/cr/ Any other suggestions welcome. Subject: Butterflies of the Edmonton river valley. From: "naturalistbob60" <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:50:01 -0000 I had a great walk yesterday and bumped into Gerry Hilchie just below the U of A. Truly a wonderful meeting. Not much flying around but came across some great skippers! Sulphur (sp) 2. White (sp) 3. M Cloak 2. W tail Blue 4. Artic Skipper 1. Hobomok Skipper 20 plus. Blue (sp). many Swallow tail (sp) 2. Comma (sp) 1. Silvery Blue 3. Silver-spotted Skipper 2. Think there has to be more action in the valley next week! Subject: mixturata ringlets From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 08:11:56 -0600 The Asian ringlet taxon mixturata has been reported in the literature as also being present in Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories. From 37 years of collecting, examining other collections and reviewing the literature it is my impression that these reports are erroneous. If anyone believes they have seen even a single specimen of mixturata from North America; please share this information as you wish. Contact me directly or post some evidence on the internet. Thank you. "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: mixturata ringlets From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 08:11:56 -0600 The Asian ringlet taxon mixturata has been reported in the literature as also being present in Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories. From 37 years of collecting, examining other collections and reviewing the literature it is my impression that these reports are erroneous. If anyone believes they have seen even a single specimen of mixturata from North America; please share this information as you wish. Contact me directly or post some evidence on the internet. Thank you. "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ringlet Request From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 07:50:15 -0600 Over the years a number of taxonomic hypotheses for Canada/USA Coenonympha have been tabled in the literature. These vary from recognition of 2 species to recognition of 10 species. The number of ringlet species is unclear and cannot be determined from the historical or recent literature. I am presently lacking recently collected specimens for dna sequencing of the following taxa: mcisaaci elko insulana eryngii furcae heinemani pseudobrenda yontocket Also of particular value would be ringlet specimens from the sundry purported/reported 'intergrade' zones between named taxa. If these zones really exist they need to be clearly documented. If they do exist, we are still left with the issue of whether visually 'intermediate' specimens in some areas represent primary contact between subspecies or secondary contact between species. If anyone can help with securing study material; please drop me a line. Thank you. "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ringlet Request From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 07:50:15 -0600 Over the years a number of taxonomic hypotheses for Canada/USA Coenonympha have been tabled in the literature. These vary from recognition of 2 species to recognition of 10 species. The number of ringlet species is unclear and cannot be determined from the historical or recent literature. I am presently lacking recently collected specimens for dna sequencing of the following taxa: mcisaaci elko insulana eryngii furcae heinemani pseudobrenda yontocket Also of particular value would be ringlet specimens from the sundry purported/reported 'intergrade' zones between named taxa. If these zones really exist they need to be clearly documented. If they do exist, we are still left with the issue of whether visually 'intermediate' specimens in some areas represent primary contact between subspecies or secondary contact between species. If anyone can help with securing study material; please drop me a line. Thank you. "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ringlet Thank You From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 07:08:33 -0600 A number of people have kindly contributed Coenonympha study specimens over the years and a public Thank You is in order: Barb Beck Jim Beck Joe Belicek Derek Bridgehouse Jiri Buzek (deceased) William Cornelius Ken Davenport Mike Fisher Pavel Gorbunov Paul Grey (deceased) Alex Grkovich Richard Guppy (deceased) Paul Hammond David Humphries Steve Kohler Tom Kral Tom Kristensen Juha Laiho Gary Marrone David McCorkle Paul Opler Bob Parsons Ricky Patterson Todd Redhead Ron Royer Chris Schmidt Yuriy Shevnin Terry Stoddard Todd Stout Dave Threatful Robert Wuttken "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ringlet Thank You From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 07:08:33 -0600 A number of people have kindly contributed Coenonympha study specimens over the years and a public Thank You is in order: Barb Beck Jim Beck Joe Belicek Derek Bridgehouse Jiri Buzek (deceased) William Cornelius Ken Davenport Mike Fisher Pavel Gorbunov Paul Grey (deceased) Alex Grkovich Richard Guppy (deceased) Paul Hammond David Humphries Steve Kohler Tom Kral Tom Kristensen Juha Laiho Gary Marrone David McCorkle Paul Opler Bob Parsons Ricky Patterson Todd Redhead Ron Royer Chris Schmidt Yuriy Shevnin Terry Stoddard Todd Stout Dave Threatful Robert Wuttken "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Blackish Erebia From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 08:04:08 -0600 Blackish Erebia and other satyrids usually fade to brownish; both in nature with flight wear and in collections with aging. Books often illustrate such faded individuals This 'brownishness' is also enhanced by imaging under 'ordinary' incandescent light sources. But these 'grundgy-looking' butterflies are really quite attractive when seen fresh under good lighting. See files section for file 'Erebia discoidalis.pdf' for what a male looks like when captured fresh and rendered into the digital environment within a few hours of capture. "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: butterfly specimen photography From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 08:47:15 -0600 For anyone interested in specimen photography I have placed a little descriptive blurb in the files section of this discussion group website See file: Butterfly Specimen Photography.pdf "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: butterfly specimen photography From: Norbert Kondla <colias AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 08:47:15 -0600 For anyone interested in specimen photography I have placed a little descriptive blurb in the files section of this discussion group website See file: Butterfly Specimen Photography.pdf "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Norbert Kondla Calgary, Alberta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Calgary - Inglewood - Satyr Anglewing From: Wayne hewitt <wayne.hewitt AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 20:33:42 -0600 On a walk this afternoon in the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary a Satyr Anglewing (Polygonia satyrus) popped up, landed at my feet long enough to take a picture and disappeared. Wayne Hewitt Calgary [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Calgary - Spruce Meadows From: Wayne hewitt <wayne.hewitt AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 19:51:20 -0600 On a drive today by Spruce Meadows in SW Calgary. Saw three butts - did not have an net. Got a reasonable pic of a Western White. The other two were by too fast to properly identify but one was most likely a Milbert's Tortoiseshell, the second was an anglewing - probably a comma of some sort. Wayne Hewitt Calgary [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]