Observation date: July 27, 2022
Submitted by: JudyLY
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: I saw 2 of these, one near the beginning of the road, and the other much further along. The first was visiting the Plains Sunflowers. The second sighting was of the same species first also feeding on a Plains Sunflower but then spending some time on the gravel close to the flowers.
Status: Resident
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: July 31, 2022
Coordinator notes: Judy, I need to correct my erroneous ID for this critter. Here is my analysis: 1) the FW apical white dot is a feeble freckle rather than a firm dot. (2) the FW and HW marginal lines of white marks are all feeble freckles rather than firm, tidy white dots. 3) The wing fringes have wide white elements and narrow black elements. 4) the HW median white patch has no black vein. I now know that this is Common/White C-S all the way. My earlier ID was in error and I apologize for that. The roadside habitat you were watching did indeed produce the roadside butterfly I expected. Forward we go!
Judy, both photos (same butterfly?) show two white spots that are diagnostic for Desert C-S. I am a bit surprised because roadside habitats are usually preferred by Common/White C-S rather than Desert C-S. I could conclude that this is simply an "odd" Common/White C-S (with Desert C-S marks), but Desert C-S has been reported from Dona Ana County (if infrequently) and so I am going to go with what the marks indicate. thanks for submitting!
