Observation date: August 31, 2015
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: I apologize for the poor quality of this photograph. I took a reference shot of the shrub, Cevallia sinuata, and discovered this butterfly when processing, looking for a cropped image that would show details. Though other species of butterflies were very active that day, I did not see this individual in flight.
Status: Stray
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: June 04, 2022
Coordinator notes: At first glance I thought Anteos maerula lacordairei, as Anteos clorinde nivifera would not be that deep shade of yellow on the underside. Yet, A. m. lacordairei similarly isn't quite that deep yellow on the underside. The curve of the upper area in the marginal to apical areas of the forewings was pure A. m. lacordairei and not A. clorinde nivifera. Though as I continued to examine photo it bugged me that I wasn't seeing, even in this slightly blurred photo, the heavy veining on the hind wings that both those species have in common. I saved image, rotated it and realized a flower had slightly obscured "altered" the appearance of upper wing curve. This beyond any doubt to myself is a Lyside, Kricogonia lyside! The yellow color of underside is very inherent of some female Lyside butterflies. Also there is visible moderate veining, less than previous two species mentioned, plus slightly visible crimping of the terminal area of the hindwing. These being akin to the Lyside. Sorry for explaination length but I feel it's important at times to attempt, in my visual, in explaining just how I decided. The food plant Porliera angustifolia does not naturally occur in NM to my knowledge but only in TX. But perhaps if cultivated in NM landscapes this could make Lyside a temp colonist in that state, so I listed this Lyside a stray. Great record. Thank you! JAMES STEEN
