Wyoming
This Green Winged Beauty, the State Butterfly, is a Sign of Spring in Wyoming
Like the robin, this green winged friend is a sign of springtime in Wyoming.
Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak is one of the earliest butterflies to arrive.
Adults may be seen flying during the earliest warm days of spring, while snow is still melting nearby.
This small jade-green butterfly thrives in sagebrush, brushy hills, woodlands, open hillsides, and on canyon slopes and washes.
It was first documented in 1877 near present-day Sheridan. Both the town and the butterfly are named after Lt. General P.H. Sheridan, a famous Civil War commander.
The butterfly was actually named before the town.
Another nickname for the hairstreak is Sheridan’s Elfin.
Wyoming designated her as the official state butterfly in 2009.
On January 26 that year, the “butterfly bill” passed 30-0 on its final reading.
The idea came from third-grade students at Big Horn Elementary School in Sheridan County.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Bruce Burns and Representative Rosie Berger of Sheridan County, along with Representative Mary Throne of Cheyenne.
Professor Scott Shaw, an entomologist in the University of Wyoming’s College of Agriculture, supports the bill and testified before a legislative committee Jan. 22. “This lovely insect is distinctive, being one of the few green butterflies in our region,” he said.
“I believe the senators realize and appreciate the efforts of the kids in Big Horn as well as the educational benefits to them of watching the legislative process in action.”
He added, “I don’t know if the Big Horn kids could have done this without Scott Shaw’s support. His knowledge and enthusiasm put the butterfly bill over the top in the legislative committee.”
In terms of symbolic meaning, some consider a green butterfly flitting in front of you a sign that someone you loved or are close with who has passed away is sending a message of greeting. It can also be perceived as a reminder to trust your heart when it comes to making a decision.
SEE ALSO: Do you Know Wyoming’s State Gem?
Butterflies of Wyoming
Special thanks to the University of Wyoming for the information on butterflies, published in Barnyards and Backyards magazine in 2018.
Gallery Credit: Kolby Fedore, Townsquare Media
Wyoming is a Rockhound Wonderland
Gallery Credit: Kolby Fedore, Townsquare Media
Class 3A and 4A girls’ basketball teams in Wyoming are onto the postseason with regional tournament games, Thursday through Saturday. Buffalo, Evanston, Gillette, and Lovell are the host sites of the four regionals this weekend. For both 3A sites and the 4A West site, teams need two wins to qualify for next week’s state tournament. Two losses and a team is eliminated. The champion in the 4A East regular season draws a first-round bye and has already qualified for state basketball. The other six teams are in a one-game, win-or-go-home scenario on Thursday.
WYOPREPS 3A-4A GIRLS BASKETBALL REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES
Except in the 4A East, Friday will feature elimination games. All four sites will have semifinals on Friday night. Seeding for the state tournament will be determined on Saturday. This schedule is based on the brackets sent to WyoPreps. It is subject to change.
THURSDAY, MARCH 5:
Final Score: (6) Worland 42 (3) Pinedale 36
Final Score: (2) Lander 40 (7) Lyman 26
Final Score: (1) Cody 53 (8) Mountain View 16
Final Score: (4) Powell 46 (5) Lovell 35
FRIDAY, MARCH 6:
Final Score: Pinedale 42 Lyman 25 – Eagles are eliminated
Final Score: Lovell 55 Mountain View 23 – Buffalos are eliminated
Final Score: Lander 43 Worland 16 – semifinal – Tigers qualify for state
Final Score: Cody 49 Powell 28 – semifinal – Fillies qualify for state
SATURDAY, MARCH 7:
Game 9: Pinedale vs. Powell, 9:30 a.m. – loser out
Game 10: Lovell vs. Worland, 9:30 a.m. (LMS) – loser out
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 3:30 p.m. – 3rd Place Game
Game 12: Lander vs. Cody, 12:30 p.m. – Championship Game
THURSDAY, MARCH 5:
Final Score: (3) Douglas 38 (6) Glenrock 26
Final Score: (2) Buffalo 67 (7) Newcastle 38
Final Score: (5) Burns 49 (4) Torrington 47
Final Score: (1) Wheatland 47 (8) Rawlins 42
FRIDAY, MARCH 6:
Final Score: Glenrock 49 Newcastle 46 – Dogies are eliminated
Final Score: Torrington 48 Rawlins 41 – Outlaws are eliminated
Final Score: Douglas 47 Buffalo 41 – semifinal – Bearcats qualify for state.
Final Score: Wheatland 53 Burns 29 – semifinal – Bulldogs qualify for state.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7:
Game 9: Torrington vs. Buffalo, 9 a.m. – loser out
Game 10: Glenrock vs. Burns, 10:30 a.m. – loser out
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 6 p.m. – 3rd Place Game (if necessary)
Game 12: Douglas vs. Wheatland, 3 p.m. – Championship Game
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THURSDAY, MARCH 5:
Final Score: (SW-1) Star Valley 47 (NW-4) Rock Springs 26
Final Score: (NW-2) Natrona County 47 (SW-3) Riverton 33
Final Score: (NW-1) Green River 56 (SW-4) Jackson 17
Final Score: (SW-2) Evanston 47 (NW-3) Kelly Walsh 36
FRIDAY, MARCH 6:
Final Score: Riverton 49 Rock Springs 47 – Tigers are eliminated; Wolverines won it on 2 FTs with 4.4 secs left.
Final Score: Kelly Walsh 42 Jackson 37 – Broncs are eliminated
Final Score: Star Valley 36 Natrona County 31 – semifinal – Braves qualify for state.
Final Score: Green River 60 Evanston 32 – semifinal – Wolves qualify for state.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7:
Game 9: Riverton vs. Evanston, 10 a.m. – loser out
Game 10: Kelly Walsh vs. Natrona County, 8:30 a.m. – loser out
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 3 p.m. – 3rd Place Game (at EMS)
Game 12: Star Valley vs. Green River, 3 p.m. – Championship Game
THURSDAY, MARCH 5:
Game 1: (1) Cheyenne East = Bye
Final Score: (2) Cheyenne Central 58 (7) Cheyenne South 5 – Bison are eliminated; Indians qualify for state.
Final Score: (4) Thunder Basin 46 (5) Laramie 39 – Plainsmen are eliminated; Bolts qualify for state – TB finished the game on an 8-0 run.
Final Score: (3) Sheridan 59 (6) Campbell County 33 – Camels are eliminated; Broncs qualify for state.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6:
Final Score: Cheyenne Central 54 Sheridan 30 – semifinal
Final Score: Cheyenne East 52 Thunder Basin 48 – semifinal
SATURDAY, MARCH 7:
Game 7: Thunder Basin vs. Sheridan 10 a.m. – 3rd Place Game
Game 8: Cheyenne East vs. Cheyenne Central, 1 p.m. – Championship Game
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Photos from game action at the James Johnson Winter Showcase tournament in Cheyenne.
Gallery Credit: Courtesy: Shannon Dutcher
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