Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Panama butterflies

Butterflies in the neotropics seldom land, I think possibly because this protects them from becoming bird or lizard food.  Overall, I saw more butterflies in Panama than I did in Costa Rica and many were spectacular.  All were difficult to photograph.  Some, like Malachite and White Peacock, I am well-acquainted with.  However, identifying the others proved challenging using Google search, as you'll see below. 

   
Tutia Clearwing (Ceratinia tutia)


Above and below:  Chiapas Glasswing (Ithomiidae sp.)

  


Emerald-patched Cattleheart (Parides sesostris)


Above and below:  Two views of Malachite (Siproeta stelenes)



Pteronymia sp. - photographed in a screened-in "butterfly garden" on the grounds of the Radisson Summit Hotel.  I also saw it in the wild.


*Red Cracker (Hamadryas amphinome) - not seen in the wild on this trip.  This photograph taken in the screened-in butterfly garden.


Above and below: White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)



**Above and below:  Banded Peacock (Anartia fatima)




Many-banded Daggerwing (Marpasia alcibiades)


The closest we got to photographing a Blue Morpho (M. peleides) butterfly


Zebra Hairstreak (Arawacus separata)


***Small Postman butterfly (Heliconius erato) - foul tasting butterfly that nectors on red passion flower.  Possibly for this reason, it has look-alike imitators.


****Dusted Spurwing (Antigonus erosus)


Forest Giant Owl butterfly (Caligo eurilachus) seen in our Tody Motmot forest.

* Despite being blue, the Red Cracker gets its name for its underwing color which, secondary to its habits, we will almost never see.  If you Google search "blue cracker butterfly" the correct butterfly will be identified, and you can also see photos that show the underwing of the Red Cracker.

** Although it is a very common butterfly, seen every day, initially I had trouble finding the identity of the Banded Peacock using Google search. But I found a website that makes me more comfortable confirming the ID.  By the appearance of this butterfly, the name makes sense, but initially Google searches revealed many different butterflies called "banded peacock."

*** The Small Postman has many look-alikes, but I think I have this butterfly identified correctly.

**** Comment from Darrin O'Brien suggests Dusted Spurwing (Antigonus erosus).

Let me know if you think I have identified any incorrectly or if you know more specifics.

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