The first time I ever saw a canyonland satyr was a few months ago. Satyrs stay close to the ground so it’s hard to spot them unless they’re flying. They fly in the strangest, goofiest way — up and down, over and around, and their wings often look as if they’re closed while they’re flying.1 I didn’t get a good shot that first time but made the most of my second chance last week. I love the way its black-and-white eye matches the patch on its wing, which also includes bits of silvery iridescence.
Next up is a male taxiles skipper on a small, pale thistle blossom, along with a tiny bee. Taxiles skippers are dimorphic, meaning that even hobbyists like myself can easily distinguish males from females.2 It’s also one of the few species I’m aware of whose common name includes part of its Latin form, Poanes taxiles.3
Speaking of dimorphic, while I was snapping shot after shot of the butterfly on the left (below), the one on the right showed up. I was super excited because a) it’s hard to get shots of blues with their wings open and b) they looked so different I was sure they were different species. But no, they were both marine blues, with the female on the left and the male on the right.4
A friend took me into a canyon in the Sandia foothills that I’d previously been leery of exploring on my own. It’s filled with large, slippery rocks, and is amazingly cool, green, and lush right now. It was a wonderful little walk, made even better by the Arizona sister that drifted lazily down the canyon and landed on a number of rock surfaces before continuing its journey.5
It was a chance encounter with (and a lucky photo of) another Arizona sister 19 years ago that led me into my butterfly obsession. Not once since then has a shot of an Arizona sister been as easy as that first one — although this was one of the less difficult. Thank you, Arizona sister, for posing for me.
Which, come to think of it, might explain the erratic nature of their flight.
Click here for the official definition of dimorphic.
Sacred datura is another (Datura wrightii).
I’m only about 90% sure they’re marine blues. I’m a much better photographer than biologist.
I’m completely enchanted by the red and blue stripes at the top of the Arizona sister’s wings.
Ooh! So beautiful, love the marine blue colors!
Butterflies galore! And all so utterly beautiful! Thanks for the butterfly feast, Lisa!