Art Shapiro's Butterfly Site - Polites

Polites sabuleti sabuleti

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:07:56 +0000

This is the multiple-brooded, somewhat seasonally-polyphenic low-altitude member of the complex that usually breeds on the turfgrass Distichlis spicata (occasionally on Bermuda Grass in lawns). It is common at Suisun, West Sacramento and North Sacramento and may colonize briefly elsewhere at low elevation. Specimens appearing to be this entity also turn up sporadically at Sierra Valley. Males perch low, often on the ground, and are highly territorial. Both sexes visit low flowers, especially Heliotrope and Lippia. They also frequent Aster and (on the E slope) Rabbitbrush. An urban species in the East Bay, only sporadically seen on lawns inland. March-November; Sierra Valley records in late summer and fall.

Polites sabuleti ssp.

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:07:55 +0000

This entity is neither the lowland P. s. sabuleti nor the high-montane P. s. tecumseh. It is marked as heavily as tecumseh (though the female ground color is generally paler here) and is as large as summer P. s. sabuleti, but with numerous pattern differences. Several subspecies names have been applied in the western Great Basin and we will cautiously reserve judgment as to which, if any, of these names applies to this entity, which occurs in Sierra Valley and the upper Feather River country near Quincy, as well as (very locally) near Truckee and at Verdi, NV. In some places and years it seems to be univoltine, flying between the two broods of tecumseh at Sierra Valley with variable temporal overlap; or it may be bivoltine, with partial overlap. All in all, the situation -- which is under molecular study in our group - is complex, with partial sympatry and synchrony of putative subspecies! Visits Rabbitbrush, Canada Thistle, Dogbane, etc.

Polites sabuleti tecumseh

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:07:54 +0000

The Polites sabuleti complex may contain several genetic species. Tecumseh is the "high Sierran" subspecies, occurring from the vicinity of Bucks Lake south at mostly high altitudes and extending above tree-line in the south. It is small and heavily marked both above and below, but there is significant phenotypic and molecular variation among populations. The population at Donner Pass is typical in being univoltine and emerging in June-July (7000'). It can be quite abundant. There was formerly a bivoltine population (June and September) on Bear Valley at Lang (a little under 5000'). It is now extinct; its loss seemed to follow the removal of cattle grazing and the consequent change from low turf to tall grass. There is still a bivoltine population at Sierra Valley (also 5000'). Very common at Donner; uncommon at Castle Peak; numbers vary enormously at Sierra Valley from year to year. Males perch territorially on the ground, or on protruding objects including dried cowpies. An avid visitor to pink pussy-paws, dandelion, Aster and other low meadow flowers. Larval hosts undetermined perennial grasses. The situation at Sierra Valley is very confusing.

Polites sonora

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:07:53 +0000

Common at all our mountain sites, from Lang Crossing to Sierra Valley. A species of wet meadows and streamsides, usually associated with the Greenish Blue (Plebejus saepiolus) and the Nevada Cloudy-Wing (Thorybes mexicana nevada). Perches on or near the ground; visits Aster, Goldenrod, pink pussy-paws and a great variety of flowers in bloom during its flight season. There is one brood, June-August, usually peaking early. The larval host plants are undetermined grasses.