Observation date: September 28, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: page 78 of butterfly's of southern calif. Emmel &Emmel 1973 shows the trap door with silk covering intact. after exiting the whole is left open. When you start finding lots of exit holes then you know you are in a great area. be sure to be there at the right time of year. carry lots of water to drink and pour over your head. Prepare for heat stroke! As you can see it's very easy to walk by and never see this butterfly. can't miss when it fly's, just like a fat moth. and it also fly's at night to warm rocks to spend the night staying warm. this exit hole was in grape vine canyon just across from were we found the adults. just across hwy 78. calif state park borrego desert take only photo's and leave only foot prints. we were bombarded at dusk by these coming down to roost in the canyon bottom, reminded me a lot of the white lined sphinx moth when flying but no orange. and maybe fatter?
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: March 29, 2014
Coordinator notes: I collected my series of Stephen's AKA California Giant Skipper in 1986 and the enlarged state park boundaries prohibit collecting. My collecting in 1986 was outside the park, but would now be in it. Which is why I no longer go there.
