Finding Utah Butterflies-->Arctic Alpine
Utah's arctic alpine region is a unique blend of high elevation mountain meadows, willow bogs, pristine crystal clear lakes, spruce tree forests and even glaciated talus boulder formations. Just as this physiogeographic region is splendorous and unique, so is the mix of butterflies found here. In fact, finding butterflies in the arctic/alpine region can be equally rewarding as it is challenging--sometimes in the extreme.
Some of the challenges facing those wishing to find arctic alpine butterflies include consistent afternoon thunderstorms, long hikes, unceasing wind, dangerous traversing over talus formations, thin air, and semi-unpredictable butterfly flight periods as a result of the timing of melting snowpack.
The vast majority of Utah's arctic alpine region can be found in the Uinta Mountains. Also termed as Utah's High Uintas, this range is one of the United States' most prominent east-west mountain ranges. The High Uintas are located in the northeastern part of the state, and were named after the Uintaats Indians, early relatives of the modern Ute Tribe.
The High Uintas Wilderness envelops the wild core of this massive mountain range. Characterized by the highest peaks in Utah, countless lakes, and a unique alpine ecosystem, it is among the nation's most outstanding and breathtaking areas. The High Uintas Wilderness is administered jointly by the Ashley and Wasatch-Cache National Forests.
Arctic Alpine Checklist
Swallowtails and Parnassians (Family Papilionidae)Papilio bairdi (baird's swallowtail) Papilio zelicaon nitra (anise swallowtail) Papilio rutulus rutulus (western tiger swallowtail) Parnassius smintheus sayii (rocky mountain parnassian)
Pontia occidentalis occidentalis (western white) Pieris rapae (cabbage white) Colias philodice eriphyle (yellow sulphur)Colias eurytheme (orange sulphur) Colias meadi meadi (mead's sulphur) Colias scudderi (scudder's sulphur)
Speyeria edwardsi (edwards fritillary) Speyeria coronis snyderi (coronis fritillary) Speyeria zerene platina (zerene fritillary) Speyeria callippe harmonia (callippe fritillary) Speyeria egleis utahensis (great basin fritillary) Speyeria hesperis wasatchia (northwestern fritillary) Speyeria mormonia eurynome (mormon fritillary) Boloria freija browni (freija fritillary) Boloria chariclea helena (arctic fritillary) Chlosyne damoetas damoetus (rockslide checkerspot)Euphydyras anicia maria (anicia checkerspot Euphydyras anicia alena (anicia checkerspot) Polygonia satyrus satyrus (satyr comma) Polygonia gracilis zephyrus (hoary comma) Nymphalis antiopa (mourning cloak) Nymphalis californica (california tortoiseshell) Nymphalis milberti subpallida (milbert's tortoiseshell) Vanessa virginiensis virginiensis (Virginia lady) Vanessa cardui (painted lady) Vanessa atalanta rubria (red admiral) Limenitis weidemeyeri latifascia (weidemeyer's admiral) |
Erebia callias callias (Colorado alpine) Neominois ridingsi stretchi (riding's satyr) Oeneis chryxus chryxus (chryxus arctic) Oeneis uhleri SW Utah segregate (uhler's arctic) Oeneis taygete edwardsi (white-veined arctic) Oeneis jutta reducta (jutta arctic) Oeneis melissa beani (melissa arctic)
Lycaena cupreus snowi (lustrous copper) Incisalia eryphon eryphon (western pine elfin)Mitoura spinetorum (thicket hairstreak) Glaucopsyche piasus daunia (arrowhead blue)Plebejus saepiolus saepiolus (greenish blue) Plebejus shasta minnehaha (shasta blue) Plebejus glandon (arctic blue)
Erynnis persius fredericki (persius duskywing) Pyrgus centaureae loki (grizzled skipper) Pyrgus ruralis ruralis (two-banded checkered skipper) Polites draco (draco skipper) |
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