Observation date: August 28, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Watching these Butterflies fight on a hilltop when in flight they looked like Claudious P. they seemed so white. Also the top side shows on others that I was finding where pieces of wing broke off revealing the dorsal side. I have two of these that I could post. I'm not sure that I saw one with orange on the top. Probably saw at least 7-8 all probably all male on the top of the western ridge above saddle lake. I also looked for American Copper with no luck. Another I looked for was heather blue, but saw no heather on the way up to the top of the ridge. Anise swallowtail , Branded skipper, Cloudy wing, two Banded skipper. Others also I don't take a lot of notes of everything like you do. Very focused search for just stuff I rarely see. The whites Were hilltopping at all hills that I went to except The Dana Plateau, that day the wind forced most everything to stay close to the ground including me. Very warm day at least mid sixties probably more, no wind lots of Misquitoes everywhere even relentless on the peaks.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: September 08, 2023
Coordinator notes: This is subspecies ivallda which can be gray or white and is known to be very pallid or white. The subspecies in more volcanic areas like Sonora Pass is subspecies stanislaus which tends to yellow-orange in color. Much has been published on this issue.-Ken Davenport A form that looks like stanislaus does also occur just south of Saddlebag Lake.
