Black Witch Moth

Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata), aka "mariposa de la muerte," enjoying the cool, shady walls and wet sand of a watery canyon outside of Tucson. This is a female, as indicated by the white stripe along her wings, which are easily five inches across.

Pretty Bird

Petie, is that you? Nope - looks like a female MacGillivray's Warbler (Oporornis tolmiei).

Surf's Up

Dung Beetles

A pair of dung beetles taking care of business. These are Canthon indigaceous, characterized by their iridescent green carapace and lack of a horn. The dung is cow.

Esoterizona Stones 24

Fluorescent Minerals

 A striking multi-color specimen with red calcite, green agate/opal, pink smithsonite, and blue that is likely another variety of calcite. 5"x4"x3" (Pima County)

This piece shows substantial blue calcite streaked with yellow-orange caliche deposits. Glimmers of green agate and red calcite are also visible. 5"x3"x2" (Pima County)

Sierrita Gas Pipeline Project

Here are two photos of the Sierrita Gas Pipeline Project currently under construction. First saw pipes laid out along AZ 86 while driving west towards Three Points, then they made a turn south along AZ 286. Photos were taken at the intersection of a dirt ranch road with the pipeline corridor east of AZ 286. These guys banged a road through the desert that 18-wheelers can navigate, headed all the way for Mexico. No small feat, considering the ruggedness of the terrain. This pipeline is projected to transport 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. See below for links to more detail.

Looking north.

Looking south.

Official Kinder Morgan Energy Partners page about the project:
http://www.kindermorgan.com/business/gas_pipelines/projects/sasabelateral/

Article from the Arizona Daily Independent:
http://www.arizonadailyindependent.com/2014/04/19/sierrita-pipeline-project-just-the-basics/

And lastly, for those masochistic weirdos who want the legalese, here is a link to a .pdf of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's permit issuance:
http://www.ferc.gov/CalendarFiles/20140606174500-CP13-73-000.pdf

Esoterizona Stones 23

Fluorescent Minerals

Two sides of the same rock under SWUV - orange caliche and red calcite, along with green and two unidentified shades of blue. The green is likely opal.

Second view again under white light. 5"x3"x1.5" (Pima County)

A red and blue piece - the red is calcite, and the crystalline blue may be calcite as well. Or hydrozincite. Or fluorite. Color is not always a reliable diagnostic indicator in the fluorescent world. 3"x3"x2" (Pima County)

Two-toned piece with one face of orange caliche and another of red calcite with substantial crystalline blue, as well as a few pink streaks. 6"x7"x3" (Pima County)