Archive for 'Butterflies'

Adelpha sp 03

Adelpha sp 03

This is from the airstrip in Florida, and being next to Noel Kempff Mercado National Park there are so many different species of butterflies everywhere. The airstrip is no exception! The number of Adelphas was so large, that even back home I am unable to identify the few I managed to photograph! Please help me [...]

Agathina Emperor (Doxocopa agathina)

Agathina Emperor (Doxocopa agathina)

A beautiful butterfly I also saw in Bolivian Amazon. The blue is changing with the angle of the light, so sometimes it seems to have very little blue, and in other angles it’s really striking. This is by the stream/waterfall we cross on the way to the Huanchaca Plateau (also called Caparu Meseta (Meseta de [...]

Smith’s Pixie (Melanis smithiae)

Smith’s Pixie (Melanis smithiae)

The very first of the species for me in Bolivia, and one of countless gorgeous butterfly species here in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. This is by the stream/waterfall we cross on the way to the Huanchaca Plateau (also called Caparu Meseta (Meseta de Caparú)) and is sometimes used as a camp when it’s not [...]

Adelpha sp 02

Adelpha sp 02

The diversity of butterflies here is staggering, and only when I got home did I see that what I briefly in the field thought of as the same species of Adelpha indeed was not, and needs an expert’s help to identify! Please help identify it – leave a comment.

Adelpha sp 01

Adelpha sp 01

Identifying the Adelphas is not easy, and in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park they are so plentiful that your analytical skills are really put to the test. Please help identify it – leave a comment.

Mesentina Sister (Adelpha mesentina)

Mesentina Sister (Adelpha mesentina)

The diversity of butterflies here is staggering, and only when I got home did I see that what I briefly in the field thought of as the same species of Adelpha indeed was not, and needs an expert’s help to identify! Please help me identfy it – leave a comment.

Green Mantle (Caria mantinea)

Green Mantle (Caria mantinea)

A very tricky butterfly to follow, and when my salty pants seemed the only interesting spot to land I was out of options and had to accept that this would be the only shot I would get. With much more time, I would of course get some decent shots of this magnificent butterfly. The amount [...]

Adelpha sp

Adelpha sp

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the river Paraguá as a natural border in the west, and on the shores of the river you’ll see a large number of insect species, including butterflies. So even though the community of Florida is cattle land, and typically has human waste of different categories, the proximity to the [...]

Heraclides sp

Heraclides sp

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the river Paraguá as a natural border in the west, and on the shores of the river you’ll see a large number of insect species, including butterflies. So even though the community of Florida is cattle land, and typically has human waste of different categories, the proximity to the [...]

Heraclides sp?

Heraclides sp?

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the river Paraguá as a natural border in the west, and on the shores of the river you’ll see a large number of insect species, including butterflies. So even though the community of Florida is cattle land, and typically has human waste of different categories, the proximity to the [...]

Ruby-spotted Swallowtail (Heraclides anchisiades)

Ruby-spotted Swallowtail (Heraclides anchisiades)

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the river Paraguá as a natural border in the west, and on the shores of the river you’ll see a large number of insect species, including butterflies. So even though the community of Florida is cattle land, and typically has human waste of different categories, the proximity to the [...]

Rothschild’s Swordtail (Protesilaus earis)

Rothschild’s Swordtail (Protesilaus earis)

The different species of Protesilaus can be difficult to identify, but if you think of the thick black bars on the forewing as a barcode, you actually have a way of separating them. The particular of this one is that the fourth bar (counting bottom-up) is almost non-existing. Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the [...]

Glittering Sapphire (Lasaia agesilas)

Glittering Sapphire (Lasaia agesilas)

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the river Paraguá as a natural border in the west, and on the shores of the river you’ll see a large number of insect species, including butterflies. So even though the community of Florida is cattle land, and typically has human waste of different categories, the proximity to the [...]

Polyctor Skipper (Polyctor polyctor)

Polyctor Skipper (Polyctor polyctor)

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the river Paraguá as a natural border in the west, and on the shores of the river you’ll see a large number of insect species, including butterflies. So even though the community of Florida is cattle land, and typically has human waste of different categories, the proximity to the [...]

Pale Sulphur (Aphrissa statira)

Pale Sulphur (Aphrissa statira)

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the river Paraguá as a natural border in the west, and on the shores of the river you’ll see a large number of insect species, including butterflies. So even though the community of Florida is cattle land, and typically has human waste of different categories, the proximity to the [...]

Noel Kempff butterfly 01

Noel Kempff butterfly 01

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the river Paraguá as a natural border in the west, and on the shores of the river you’ll see a large number of insect species, including butterflies. So even though the community of Florida is cattle land, and typically has human waste of different categories, the proximity to the [...]

Red Daggerwing (Marpesia petreus)

Red Daggerwing (Marpesia petreus)

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the river Paraguá as a natural border in the west, and on the shores of the river you’ll see a large number of insect species, including butterflies. So even though the community of Florida is cattle land, and typically has human waste of different categories, the proximity to the [...]

Bell’s Paradise Skipper (Phocides metrodorus)

Bell’s Paradise Skipper (Phocides metrodorus)

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the river Paraguá as a natural border in the west, and on the shores of the river you’ll see a large number of insect species, including butterflies. So even though the community of Florida is cattle land, and typically has human waste of different categories, the proximity to the [...]

Hübner’s Sister (Adelpha plesaure)

Hübner’s Sister (Adelpha plesaure)

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park has the river Paraguá as a natural border in the west, and on the shores of the river you’ll see a large number of insect species, including butterflies. So even though the community of Florida is cattle land, and typically has human waste of different categories, the proximity to the [...]

Heliconius sp

Heliconius sp

This was my farwell to Chalalan, and even though it was raining some butterflies were out feeding on urine or naturally occuring salts. Please help me identify it – leave a comment.

Great Orange tip (Anteos menippe)

Great Orange tip (Anteos menippe)

Sometimes you can see quite large gatherings of this species on the riverbanks, and urine is particularly irresistible.

Genoveva Buckeye (Junonia genoveva)

Genoveva Buckeye (Junonia genoveva)

Spotted on the grounds of the now out of business Santa Rosa – Chalalan’s neighbor.

Red-barred Amarynthis (Amarynthis meneria)

Red-barred Amarynthis (Amarynthis meneria)

One of innumerable species of butterflies and moths found here, this is on the trail from Tuichi river to Santa Rosa lake – the much larger neighboring lake to Chalalan.

Cleonus Metalmark (Detritivora cleonus)

Cleonus Metalmark (Detritivora cleonus)

This is on the trail from Tuichi river to Santa Rosa lake – the much larger neighboring lake to Chalalan.

Many-banded Daggerwing (Marpesia chiron)

Many-banded Daggerwing (Marpesia chiron)

A large and quite common butterfly on the riverbanks of Madidi.

Rainbow metalmark (Caria trochilus)

Rainbow metalmark (Caria trochilus)

The Caria butterflies are perhaps the most beautiful of all! The colors, patterns and how they are in different angles and light is just mesmerizing, and I guess reason for some to get hooked on butterflies for the rest of their lives! I never got the chance to photograph this species in direct sunlight, which [...]

Altiplano butterfly 01

Altiplano butterfly 01

One of very few butterflies I saw on the Altiplano. In the Amazon there’s a lack of salt and they sometimes swarm aound sweat or urine stains in the landscape. Here it’s plenty of salt, but perhaps not so much pollen. Please help my identify it – leave a comment. Altitude: 3838 metres.

Callicore sp

Callicore sp

I only saw this once – at least with wings open. Most I saw of this species had their wings closed, thus I only saw the underside of the wing (ventral). Usually butterflies are rather dull colorwise on the underside, but this species caught my eyes due to their very colorful underside. Unfortunately I didn’t [...]

Large Spurwing (Antigonus nearchus)

Large Spurwing (Antigonus nearchus)

From most angles it looks like an all-brown butterfly that’s well camouflaged against the mud of the riverbank.

Eurota Purplewing (Eunica eurota)

Eurota Purplewing (Eunica eurota)

One of many wonderful species alongside the river bank of the Napo Wildlife Center welcome center. Like many species also this one preferred to sit with wings closed, and thus blend in with the muddy shore. I noticed some blue in flight, but sitting it was not generous in opening its wings. It finally decided [...]

Agathina Emperor (Doxocopa agathina)

Agathina Emperor (Doxocopa agathina)

I’m grateful to have gotten a shot of this wonderful butterfly. I only saw it here this once on the muddy grounds of the Napo Wildlife Center welcome center. Here the shifting levels of the Napo river deposits silt on the flat riverside and this is what the butterflies seek – salts. Most of the [...]

Sootywing (Bolla sp)

Sootywing (Bolla sp)

Very hard to identify, but beautiful nonetheless! One of the many species visiting the Napo Wildlife Center welcome center. It was one of few species that preferred the rotting tree stump to the minerals in the river mud.

Green-shouldered Gorgopas (Gorgopas trochilus)

Green-shouldered Gorgopas (Gorgopas trochilus)

A fantastic mix of green and yellow – almost metallic or iridescent. I first though this was a male Sootywing, as it too has the white spots on the tip of the wings. Thanks again Kim Garwood!

Kite Swallowtail (Protesilaus macrosilaus)

Kite Swallowtail (Protesilaus macrosilaus)

Large and very striking butterfly. Should be easy to identify one might think, but as allways there are many species with minute variations. I notice there is no yellow on the backwings, and the second zebra stripe is very short, almost like a dot rather than a stripe. The body is also all-white. I have [...]

Perilla crescent (Castilia perilla)

Perilla crescent (Castilia perilla)

I only saw this one, and it was in the darkest areas alongside the Napo River and the path to the Napo Wildlife welcome center. Thanks to Kim Garwood for identification!

Black-patched Metalmark (Lasaia agesilas)

Black-patched Metalmark (Lasaia agesilas)

I saw this species in dark undergrowth as well as in open sections alongside the Napo river. Also named Glittering Sapphire.

Firetip (Pyrrhopyge sp)

Firetip (Pyrrhopyge sp)

Little light is reflected, only the red and white is prominent, and only when in certain angles you’ll see that it’s blue and not really black. I found it in the dark undergrowth alongside the Napo river, close to the Napo Wildlife Center welcome center. A positive identification is only possible with a view of [...]

Yasuni Lepidoptera 04

Yasuni Lepidoptera 04

Please help me classify it – leave a comment

Purplewing? (Eunica)

Purplewing? (Eunica)

I only saw this once. Here sitting on the outside of the Anangu Quichua Community’s souvenir hut – close to the welcome center. This is an opening in the dense jungle and is away from the river. Please help me classify it – leave a comment

Malachite (Siproeta stelenes)

Malachite (Siproeta stelenes)

Here sitting on the outside of the Anangu Quichua Community’s souvenir hut – close to the welcome center. This is an opening in the dense jungle and is away from the river. Thanks to Kim Garwood for identification!

Pygas Eighty-eight (Callicore pygas)

Pygas Eighty-eight (Callicore pygas)

Sitting on the outside of the Anangu Quichua Community’s souvenir hut – close to the welcome center. This is an opening in the dense jungle and is away from the river. Thanks to Kim Garwood for identification!

Juno Longwing (Dione juno)

Juno Longwing (Dione juno)

Quite common among the cabanas. I also saw this species sitting on the head of the turtles, possibly harvesting salts – to the frustration of the turtles. Sometimes a particular turtle seemed like a beacon of temptation as it had 3-4 butterflies fighting for space on its head. The turtle would try to avoid them [...]

Giant glasswing (Methona confusa)

Giant glasswing (Methona confusa)

Thanks to Kim Garwood for identification!

Owl butterfly (Caligo sp)

Owl butterfly (Caligo sp)

Please help classify it. Leave a comment

Clearwing (Danainae ?)

Clearwing (Danainae ?)

Please help me classify it. Leave a comment

Clearwing (Greta genus)

Clearwing (Greta genus)

Thanks to Kim Garwood for helping in identification!

Heliconius erato

Heliconius erato

Thanks to Kim Garwood for identification!

Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charitonius)

Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charitonius)

Thanks to Kim Garwood for identification!