Observation date: July 03, 2022
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Small, muddy depression near an arroyo bottom crossed by Soledad Canyon hiking trail, attracted this skipper along with marine and Reakirt's blues to take nutrients from the silty/small gravel substrate. While the skipper extracted nutrients primarily, it also seemed to deposit eggs against gravel pebbles in the depression. The mid-day was hot and breezy under full sunshine.
Status: Resident
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: July 05, 2022
Coordinator notes: Jim, these are terrific images and notes. it is fairly routine for butterflies on hot summer days to settle at damp soil, insert proboscides into the soil, then siphon up fluids; we generally think this is to replace electrolytes. Once electrolytes are extracted, they release fluids that exceed their water needs of the moment. We don't want them to become water balloons!
