The Woodlands, TX 6/17/08

We just got back from vacation in Texas. Part of the time was spent in The Woodlands, a booming town just north of Houston.

"Booming" is a term of mixed value; one of the downsides is that most butterfly habitat is now gone. However, I did find a couple of gems:

The White-M Hairstreak Parhassius m-album

Underside. This individual had a slight tear in the right wing, and the brilliant metallic blue of the top side of the left hindwing is just visible through the crack. Note the red spot on the hindwing is set in from the margin, a clear diagnostic.



A close-up of the hindwing showing a bare patch where scales have rubbed off of the wing. The ridge structure of the wing is visible.


An in-flight showing the striking blue color of the top-side. My sister's toe was the trigger for the flight. The blue top-color is another clear diagnostic for the White-M.



Also seen but not depicted here:

Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae
Palamedes Swallowtail Papilio palamedes
Common Checkered-skipper Pyrgus communis (or albescens?)
Red-banded Hairstreak Calycopis cecrops
Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana
Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus

And that was it!

JRC