Rusty Metalmark

A young male Rusty Metalmark (my gallery link) in my garden on a milkweed.

Rusty Metalmark, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Atenas, Costa Rica makes the Forbes list of best places to retire! 🙂 That link is to the Tico Times article.

Pale-banded Crescent

A tiny butterfly on a groundcover flower, the Pale-banded Crescent (my gallery link).

Pale-banded Crescent, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

God has so many designs for butterflies that it is overwhelming! And brown is one of my favorite colors! 🙂

¡Pura Vida!

Cecropterus Genus – Cloudywings

I’ve been unable to identify this butterfly I observed in my garden in June and iNaturalist helped me to put it in this Genus Cecropterus, generally referred to as “Cloudywings.” I’m hoping that after I post it on both iNaturalist and BAMONA, some butterfly specialist will identify it. It is similar to some other butterflies I’ve seen, so it is possible it will join another species I’ve earlier identified. We will see! 🙂

Cecropterus Genus, one of the “Cloudywings.”

¡Pura Vida!

Calephelis Genus

I’m beginning to place more of my unidentified butterflies into their probable genus or even a broader tribe or family, thanks to the folks at iNaturalist who encourage that and their very helpful AI helps me choose which level to put it in. This one from June at my house really fits the Calephelis Genus but I simply cannot identify the species and hopefully when I post it on both iNaturalist and BAMONA at the end of the month as my June observations, some “identifier” or butterfly specialist will have an identity. 🙂 But until then, this observation will stay with several other similar ones in my gallery Calephelis Genus. (linked)

Calephelis Genus Butterfly, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Continue reading “Calephelis Genus”

Giant White

This one might be as common in parts of North America as here, the Giant White – Ganyra josephina (my gallery link). One of the many new species showing up in June when the wind was not blowing. 🙂

Giant White, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Continue reading “Giant White”

Variable Cracker

First Cracker I’ve seen in Atenas outside my garden, this one on a telephone pole between my house and the RV front gate. That metal strap on the power line pole takes away from the naturalness of the butterfly, but it is otherwise a good, clear photo by my cheap android telephone. 🙂 See more of this species in my gallery Variable Cracker. All of the others are on my Cecropia Tree.

Variable Cracker, Residential Roca Verde, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Dark Apricot Sulphur

One of my frequently seen Sulphur is this Dark Apricot Sulphur, Phoebis argante (my gallery link). Note that the top of wings are a solid bright yellow while the bottom of wings (or side view) is a darker yellow with lots of brown spots.

Dark Apricot Sulphur, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Continue reading “Dark Apricot Sulphur”

Mexican Fritillary

There are so many orange with black trim butterflies and most of them are distinctly different, as is this Mexican Fritillary, Euptoieta hegesia (my gallery link).

Mexican Fritillary, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Continue reading “Mexican Fritillary”

Pale-banded Crescent

In my gallery I have 9 different species of Crescents and this one has been mostly seen here in Atenas. See my GALLERY: Pale-banded Crescent, Anthanassa tulcis (linked). Here’s three different views in my garden this June and the damaged wings you may have noticed on other butterfly photos I’ve shared this year. It is the wind! Though not all the time like January, it is blowing just as hard here in June, which is not normal! I believe it is a part of the human-caused climate change. Also note that this one is on one of my few Milkweed Flowers, which is also attracting other species, so I want to find another sunny spot for more.

Pale banded Crescent, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

And two more different view photos . . .

Continue reading “Pale-banded Crescent”

Mimosa Yellow

Mimosa Yellow, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Above is a crisper, traditional shot while below is another “soft look” shot as with the feature photo . . .

Continue reading “Mimosa Yellow”