Another Unusual Bug

The closest I’ve been able to get to an identification so far on iNaturalist is “Subfamily Coreinae Insect.” Then quickly after posting it, someone more knowledgeable narrowed it down to “Piezogaster Genus” (iNaturalist link) which is closer to a species name which hopefully someone will be able to provide there. Here’s two shots from the floor of my terrace from different angles (front & back) . . .

Piezogaster Genus insect, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Banded Peacock Butterfly

This very common butterfly is the one I keep seeing as many of the others are no longer around. There are much better photos in my gallery: Banded Peacock, Anartia fatima.

Banded Peacock, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Red Cracker

This is my first sighting of a Red Cracker, Hamadryas amphinome (linked to iNaturalist). I did post one here earlier that I called a Red Cracker, but later found out that it was actually an Orange Cracker. Still learning! 🙂

Red Cracker on Cecropia Tree in my garden, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
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Snack at the Air Plant Cafe

This Rufous-backed Wren (my gallery link) stopped in one of my Nance Trees, not for a berry (wrong time of year) but for an insect snack out of the little Air Plant growing on the tree. 🙂

Rufous-backed Wren stopping for a snack from the air plant, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Rufous-backed Wren stopping for a snack from the air plant, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica.

¡Pura Vida!

Banded Peacock

One of the most common or often seen butterflies in my garden is the Banded Peacock, Anartia fatima (my gallery link) and maybe also the most common in other places I visit in Costa Rica.

Banded Peacock, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

White Angled-Sulphur Male

The big yellow patch is what indicates that it is a male, while the female has only the brown spot on each wing. The feature photo is one typical view with a greenish/yellowish hew on the folded wings while the top of wings are usually a bright white like the photo below where the same butterfly is strangely contorted. See more of my photos of this interesting butterfly in my gallery: White Angled-Sulphur, Anteos clorinde. They are found as residents from Argentina to Mexico with migrants going into the Southwestern U.S. and Great Plains.

White Angled-Sulphur male, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Western Giant Swallowtail

This is one that I have constantly confused with the Thoas Swallowtail with very little, tiny differences. But I think I have this one identified correctly this time. 🙂 From my garden and of course there is a GALLERY: Western Giant Swallowtail.

Western Giant Swallowtail, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Clay-colored Thrush Foraging

“The Clay-colored Thrush in Costa Rica eats a varied diet of insects, earthworms, and other invertebrates, supplemented by fruits and berries. They are found in diverse habitats across the country, including forests, open woodlands, gardens, and urban areas. They forage primarily on the ground by hopping and probing leaf litter, but also eat fruit from trees.” ~Google AI Overview.  See more photos in my Gallery Clay-colored Thrush.

Clay-colored Thrush, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Pale-banded Crescent

A tiny little creature who stays close to the ground and on ground cover flowers like this. Not my first sighting, but first one this year. Formerly called Tulcis Crescent; see more photos in the Gallery: Pale-banded Crescent, Anthanassa tulcis.

Pale-banded Crescent, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Hermes Satyr

In the past two years this was seen more often than this year for some reason. It was frequently near the ground or on grasses and ground-cover, but this time in October mostly on my Lantana flowers. It is very small, about the size of my thumbnail when his wings are folded. See more of my photos in the GALLERY: Hermes Satyr. This species is almost identical to another one found in the U.S. called Carolina Satyr, which is what I first labeled these guys here, but all indications are that here in Central America they are called Hermes and considered a different species. Here’s two shots from my garden . . .

Hermes Satyr, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica (on Lantana flower)
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