Well . . . they sort of look like little fairies, the White Peacock Butterfly, Anartia jatrophae, which have been one of my staple butterflies this year. Here’s 3 of my shots of these lacy-like butterfly the other day.
My Garden Fairies
White Peacock Avoiding the Wind
White Peacock – Anartia jatrophae – I always prefer photos of the tops of their wings when open and spread out, but we have so much wind this time of year that they won’t risk being blown away by keeping their wings folded every time they land and even then their folded wings are like a little sail sticking up. :-) Though not as common for me as the Banded Peacock, they are fairly common all over Costa Rica on both slopes as you can see in my White Peacock GALLERY, though so far only at lower elevations. Here’s two shots from my garden the other day . . .
5 Other Butterflies at Esquinas
A few more butterflies I photographed that are not new for me, but still interesting . . . one for the emailed version, then a gallery of all . . .
White Peacock Butterfly
He was not in my garden, but nearby in the neighborhood on the zinnas that are regularly regrowing year-around at 8th Ave and 3rd Street on one of my walks to town.
See my White Peacock Gallery.
¡Pura Vida!
10 Butterfly Species at Maquenque
Although birds are the biggest category of wildlife for me at Maquenque Ecolodge, there are a lot of other wildlife and on this April trip I photographed 10 species of butterflies with one being a Lifer or first time seen (the Glassy-winged Skipper). Below is 1 photo of each of the 10 species for those who don’t go to separate galleries. Or here’s links to the online gallery with all my butterfly photos from this trip. https://charliedoggett.smugmug.com/TRIPS/2023-April-9-14-Maquenque-Ecolodge/OTHER-ANIMALS/BUTTERFLIES
Or below see just one photo of each of the 10 species . . .
White Peacock Butterfly
I photographed 9 or 10 different species of butterflies at Maquenque and hope to soon have the trip gallery up including all of them. Here’s just one, the White Peacock Butterfly.
See my White Peacock Gallery.
¡Pura Vida!
Brilliant White Peacock Butterfly
Though one of my regular visitors, I continue to be amazed at the simple beauty of this butterfly . . .
My Garden Peacock & Health Update
And of course you do know that I mean Peacock BUTTERFLY! 🙂
There are two species that I see here, the more common is the Banded Peacock that I see all over Costa Rica and shared one from last week’s visit to Xandari, but maybe my preferred is the simpler but elegant White Peacock Butterfly, Anartia jatrophae. Click that link for my gallery photos of them. They are also found all over Costa Rica, though not in the abundance of the Banded Peacock. These are the only 2 “Peacock” butterflies in Costa Rica, while Panama and south into South America there is also a Red Peacock Butterfly which is similar to the Banded but with thicker bands of red where the Banded has thinner white bands.
White Peacock Butterfly
In my garden the other day as one I haven’t seen much of this year. A beautifully simple butterfly unlike his cousin the more flashy Banded Peacock. You may have noticed that I saw one on the birding hike last Saturday also. See my White Peacock GALLERY for some better photos of this normal-sized butterfly.
¡Pura Vida!
Bribri Insects
Still working on my bird photos, so just 3 insects tonight who are not the ones that bit my legs that still itch! 🙂 We slept under mosquito nets and I sprayed myself every day with Deet-infused Off! Yet these 3 guys still let me get close enough for photos.
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| Great Blue Skimmer was everywhere! Lots of standing water! Bribri Yorkin Forest, Costa Rica |
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| Banded Satyr Bribri Yorkin Forest, Costa Rica |
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| Banded Peacock or Fatima Butterfly Bribri Yorkin Forest, Costa Rica |
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| Orange-barred Sulphur Bribri Yorkin Forest, Costa Rica |
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| White Peacock Bribri Yorkin Forest, Costa Rica |
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| Unidentified Butterfly or Moth Bribri Yorkin Forest, Costa Rica |
All life is linked together in such a way that no part of the chain is unimportant. Frequently, upon the action of some of these minute beings depends the material success or failure of a great commonwealth.
— John Henry Comstock