insects at elevation

So in lieu of a functioning ski lift, there are trails... and when there are trails, they must be hiked. Silly us, having come from our FL adventure (elevation 4 feet) two weeks ago, we figured a few thousand feet would be fine. We were right, but when you start at 10,500 feet and then hike *up* for easily another thousand...



Gasping for air gives you the time to find some pretty curious creatures. This is one of the dozens of stealthy Green Commas (Polygonia faunus) that innocently fluttered about the meadows on our ascent. Stealthy, yes. Because one decided to sneak up on a Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia).



More evidence of stealth - yet another Green Comma decided to feast upon the hearty minerals of a Trader Joe's salad dressing dribble on my shorts.



Tomorrow: more adventures. We just won't know what they are until then =)

Today's leps included:
Green Lattice Moth (Gnophaela vermiculata)
White-lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata)
Arrowhead Blue (Glaucopsyche piasus)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia)
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
Green Comma (Polygonia faunus)
Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides)
Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia)
* unidentified Speyeria/frit(s) of sorts