Category: Insects

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Rainforest Dragonflies

There are a lot of dragonflies around all the different water locations and because we have the dragonfly specialist active in iNaturalist Costa Rica, I wait until after I post the photos there for him to confirm or give the species or even say if I have them in the right family! 🙂 I’m more confident about that amber wing identification, but not the others. And I’m including two reds here, because I think they are two different species.

One of theTropical Dashers – Genus Micrathyria, Dragonflies at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, Golfito, Costa Rica

3 more dragonflies below . . .

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Whitened Eyed-Metalmark

This butterfly is a new species for me, from Esquinas Rainforest Lodge: Whitened Eyed-Metalmark, Mesosemia zonalis (linked to iNaturalist Costa Rica with only 21 observations with mine making it 22). It is found from Honduras south to Columbia, but not seen frequently. My new Gallery: Whitened Eyed-Metalmark has only these three photos now. 🙂

Whitened Eyed-Metalmark, Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, Piedras Blancas National Park, Golfito, Costa Rica
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A New YELLOW for me

I’m getting my best help with identification through iNaturalist or through multiple channels with them. And I finally determined that this new Yellow for me is Westwood’s Yellow, Eurema westwoodii, linked to iNaturalist, but not much info there or anywhere else online about this species and it is not even included in BAMONA. I have a gallery for Westwood’s Yellow with just two observations, June 2 & 7 this year. The 2 photos here are from my June 7 observation.

Westwood’s Yellow, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Garden Dragonfly

This is a Blue-eyed Setwing, Dythemis nigra (linked to my Gallery) which is not a new species for me and these photo IDs have been confirmed by iNaturalist. I have both dragonflies and damselflies visiting my garden somewhat regularly, though they tend to stay closer to the water of a stream across the cow pasture from me. Two shots from different angles . . .

Genus Dythemis Dragonfly, in my garden, Atenas, Costa Rica
Genus Dythemis Dragonfly, in my garden, Atenas, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

See my GALLERIES: Dragonflies & Damselflies Costa Rica

Plant a tree!

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Giant Butterfly Moth

is usually trying to hide behind leaves in the garden, but if I keep trying I usually get a shot, though there are much better ones in my GALLERY: Giant Butterfly Moth, Castniomera atymnius. All photos are either from my garden or the Esquinas Rainforest Lodge where I will be next week. Just one shot here . . .

Giant Butterfly Moth, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Conservation brings life!

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Apricot Sulphur

is one of my “regulars” this year and varies in color from an Apricot orange color to the common yellow of all the other yellows! But, he/she always has lots of brown spots and usually the distinctive double white spots on folded wings (solid yellow on top). Here’s just two shots from this month, one yellow and one orangey. See more in my GALLERY: Apricot Sulphur, Phoebis argante.

Apricot Sulphur, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Apricot Sulphur, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

We are all responsible for the future of earth.

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Pink-spotted Cattleheart

This butterfly in the Swallowtail Family is one of the more brilliant and the only Cattleheart with two rows of pink (red) spots on the bottom of his hind wings. And note that this particular individual is damaged and has only one hind wing. You will find much better shots in my gallery: Pink-spotted Cattleheart, Parides photinus, and all but one photo are from my garden. 🙂 Found only from Costa Rica to Mexico.

Pink-spotted Cattleheart, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Juno Silverspot

A few days ago I shared a Mexican Silverspot and this one is different but similar, with the side view spots differently arranged and the top view totally different. Some more of the flying color found in Central America! See my GALLERY: Juno Longwing or Silverspot, Dione juno for more and better photos from Costa Rica.

Juno Silverspot, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Juno Silverspot, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

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New Butterfly Species . . .

. . . for me at least, and for BAMONA, as I had to ask for the additional species, though there are lots (160) of observations on iNaturalist CR. This was of course in my garden, on the “Once de abril” or Golden Dewdrop flowering shrub (Duranta erecta). The butterfly is the Anius Metalmark (Charis anius), one of the tiny (thumbnail sized) Metalmarks. In addition to the iNat observations above you can find a little bit of info on iNaturalista Costa Rica. It is found from Honduras south to Brazil. No other information seems to be online nor in my books. I got only two shots before he disappeared.

Anius Metalmark, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Anius Metalmark, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

It’s our choice!