Observation date: February 25, 2025
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Using Gordon Berman's sightings of this species on Picacho Mtn. (02/24/25), I visited the small hill in the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park to determine species presence. 5-10 orangetips (small in size) were perching on creosotebush shrubs and among rocks, flying among shrubs to locate mates, interacting with each other and territorial male Desert Marbles, and mating. No plants were in flower and the afternoon was breezy to windy, under full sun, and warm. Images below are a behavioral sequence of a mating pair (perched in a creosotebush) with a male(?) interloper, the same mating pair together, and the postmating female(?) following separation from the male after 10-15 minutes of mating.
Status: Resident
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: February 27, 2025
Coordinator notes: yes, we have ssp. pima. thanks for this terrific sequence of courtship and mating!
Please reach out to my personal email so I can learn more about your concerns with the map.
