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White Peacock
Anartia jatrophae
4th December 2018. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
This was photographed in the grounds of our hotel on our first full day in Costa Rica, making it one of the first "non-European" butterflies that I had ever seen in the wild. They seemed to hang around the bushier, damper parts of the hotel grounds. Quite stunning, and well worth the ten hour flight to see beauties such as this! It is a fairly common species across much of the Americas.
4th December 2018. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
This was photographed in the grounds of our hotel on our first full day in Costa Rica, making it one of the first "non-European" butterflies that I had ever seen in the wild. They seemed to hang around the bushier, damper parts of the hotel grounds. Quite stunning, and well worth the ten hour flight to see beauties such as this! It is a fairly common species across much of the Americas.
Common Morpho
Morpho helenor
7th December 2018. Bijagua. Alajuela.
I have seen plenty of these in tropical butterfly houses in the UK, but seeing them in the wild is just something else! I shall never forget the sight of the first one that we saw. It was huge, flying with a characteristic slow, floppy wingbeat through the tropical forest not far from our hotel. This particular one was photographed further east, close to the continental divide, in tropical rainforest. Unreal!
7th December 2018. Bijagua. Alajuela.
I have seen plenty of these in tropical butterfly houses in the UK, but seeing them in the wild is just something else! I shall never forget the sight of the first one that we saw. It was huge, flying with a characteristic slow, floppy wingbeat through the tropical forest not far from our hotel. This particular one was photographed further east, close to the continental divide, in tropical rainforest. Unreal!
Mexican Fritillary
Euptoieta hegesia
6th December 2018. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
This fritillary is fast-flying and difficult to get close to. I was fortunate to find the lovely fresh individual here at rest, warming up after a rain shower. We saw several on the wing around the forest edges and in clearings at low altitude, not far from the coast. Very orange in flight, most of the examples were worn and had some wing damage, making this image all the more satisfying to capture! Widespread across central America and the West Indies.
6th December 2018. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
This fritillary is fast-flying and difficult to get close to. I was fortunate to find the lovely fresh individual here at rest, warming up after a rain shower. We saw several on the wing around the forest edges and in clearings at low altitude, not far from the coast. Very orange in flight, most of the examples were worn and had some wing damage, making this image all the more satisfying to capture! Widespread across central America and the West Indies.
Spineless Silverdrop
Epargyreus aspina
22nd November 2019. Rincon de la Vieja. Guanacaste.
In a dry, scrubby grassland clearing in the volcanic tropical rainforest, this butterfly lead me a merry dance for quite some time before I managed to get my camera on it. Very fast and erratic on the wing, this one finally stopped at nectar for the briefest on moments. Found across much of central America.
22nd November 2019. Rincon de la Vieja. Guanacaste.
In a dry, scrubby grassland clearing in the volcanic tropical rainforest, this butterfly lead me a merry dance for quite some time before I managed to get my camera on it. Very fast and erratic on the wing, this one finally stopped at nectar for the briefest on moments. Found across much of central America.
White-spotted Tanmark
Emesis aurimna
22nd November 2019. Rincon de la Vieja. Guanacaste.
This beautifully marked butterfly was one of several rather special species found along a wonderful forest edge habitat. It seemed to like staying in the shade of the ride edge, where it was quite difficult to approach. A darkly coloured upperwing, with the characteristic white-tip, contrasting nicely with a more orangey, latticed underwing. A lovely insect.
22nd November 2019. Rincon de la Vieja. Guanacaste.
This beautifully marked butterfly was one of several rather special species found along a wonderful forest edge habitat. It seemed to like staying in the shade of the ride edge, where it was quite difficult to approach. A darkly coloured upperwing, with the characteristic white-tip, contrasting nicely with a more orangey, latticed underwing. A lovely insect.
White-patched Skipper
Chiomara asychis
15th December 2018. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
In central America, there are more species of skipper butterfly than any other group, by quite some margin. They account for more than a third of the species found in the region. No surprise then that we seemed to find a few new skippers every day during our time in Costa Rica. This one was hanging around a damp water hole on the edge of the forest, close to the beach, in crocodile country. Difficult to photograph, as the water hole was deep in the shade, this was the best I could manage.
15th December 2018. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
In central America, there are more species of skipper butterfly than any other group, by quite some margin. They account for more than a third of the species found in the region. No surprise then that we seemed to find a few new skippers every day during our time in Costa Rica. This one was hanging around a damp water hole on the edge of the forest, close to the beach, in crocodile country. Difficult to photograph, as the water hole was deep in the shade, this was the best I could manage.
Veined White-Skipper
Heliopetes arsalte
5th December 2018. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
A very attractive skipper of central and south America, this butterfly was not uncommon in grassy areas bordered by scrub. Quite a delicate skipper, we saw these most days on our walk around the local forests and grassy tracks.
5th December 2018. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
A very attractive skipper of central and south America, this butterfly was not uncommon in grassy areas bordered by scrub. Quite a delicate skipper, we saw these most days on our walk around the local forests and grassy tracks.
Tropical Buckeye
Junonia genoveva
19th November 2019. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
There is some confusion over the classification of the "buckeye" butterflies, and there are contradictory names in books and on websites. I believe this to be Junonia genoveva, which is called the "Tropical Buckeye" in the Swift Guide to Butterflies of Mexico and Central America, but many other sources have this species named as the "Mangrove Buckeye". That would be appropriate, as this individual was photographed in a mangrove area. An impressive beast, quite powerful in flight, most of the individuals we saw were tatty, with torn, damaged wings. This one was fresh, and posed nicely for me!
19th November 2019. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
There is some confusion over the classification of the "buckeye" butterflies, and there are contradictory names in books and on websites. I believe this to be Junonia genoveva, which is called the "Tropical Buckeye" in the Swift Guide to Butterflies of Mexico and Central America, but many other sources have this species named as the "Mangrove Buckeye". That would be appropriate, as this individual was photographed in a mangrove area. An impressive beast, quite powerful in flight, most of the individuals we saw were tatty, with torn, damaged wings. This one was fresh, and posed nicely for me!
Tropical Buckeye
Junonia genoveva
21st November 2019. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
The highly attractive upperside of the buckeye, photographed a few moments before an almost too close encounter with a crocodile in the mangroves. See previous image for commentary.
21st November 2019. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
The highly attractive upperside of the buckeye, photographed a few moments before an almost too close encounter with a crocodile in the mangroves. See previous image for commentary.
Tropical Checkered Skipper
Pyrgus oileus
10th December 2018. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
This butterfly wouldn't look too out of place in Europe, bearing a passing resemblence to European Pyrgus species. These were common in grassy, flower-rich habitats in several places. The male of the species (seen here) has particularly hairy wings, especially close towards the body. The camera makes them look almost blurred. Quite a territorial and aggressive butterfly. Found through much of central and south America.
10th December 2018. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
This butterfly wouldn't look too out of place in Europe, bearing a passing resemblence to European Pyrgus species. These were common in grassy, flower-rich habitats in several places. The male of the species (seen here) has particularly hairy wings, especially close towards the body. The camera makes them look almost blurred. Quite a territorial and aggressive butterfly. Found through much of central and south America.
Tiger Heliconian
Heliconius ismenius
22nd November 2019. Rincon de la Vieja. Guanacaste.
This is one of several Heliconius species that I had the great pleasure of photographing in a sunny clearing deep in the tropical rainforest. The stuff of dreams! Popular in tropical butterfly houses around the world, seeing these beauties in their natural habitat was a very special occasion. A central American butterfly, Costa Rica is a good place to see it. Beautiful in flight!
22nd November 2019. Rincon de la Vieja. Guanacaste.
This is one of several Heliconius species that I had the great pleasure of photographing in a sunny clearing deep in the tropical rainforest. The stuff of dreams! Popular in tropical butterfly houses around the world, seeing these beauties in their natural habitat was a very special occasion. A central American butterfly, Costa Rica is a good place to see it. Beautiful in flight!
Theona Checkerspot
Chlosyne theona
21st November 2019. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
Although widespread across much of the southern half of the US and into Mexico, this species is close to its southern limit in Costa Rica. It was therefore pleasantly surprising to find it to be common along the edges of forests, roadsides and in more open habitats not far from our hotel. Reminiscent of a small fritillary in behaviour and flight, this very pretty butterfly soon became a personal favourite of mine during our time out there.
21st November 2019. El Jobo. Guanacaste.
Although widespread across much of the southern half of the US and into Mexico, this species is close to its southern limit in Costa Rica. It was therefore pleasantly surprising to find it to be common along the edges of forests, roadsides and in more open habitats not far from our hotel. Reminiscent of a small fritillary in behaviour and flight, this very pretty butterfly soon became a personal favourite of mine during our time out there.
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