Butterflies of Cuba
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    • Species List >
      • Papilionidae : Papilioninae >
        • Battus devilliers - De Villiers' Swallowtail
        • Battus polydamas - Polydamas Swallowtail
        • Heraclides andraemon - Bahaman Swallowtail
        • Heraclides androgeus - Androgeus Swallowtail
        • Heraclides caiguanabus - Poey's Swallowtail
        • Heraclides oviedo - Oviedo's Swallowtail
        • Heraclides oxynius - Cuban Black Swallowtail
        • Heraclides pelaus - Pelaus Swallowtail
        • Heraclides ponceana - Dusky Swallowtail
        • Neographium celadon - Cuban Kite Swallowtail
        • Papilio demoleus - Lime Swallowtail
        • Papilio polyxenes - Black Swallowtail
        • Parides gundlachianus - Gundlach's Swallowtail
        • Pterourus palamedes - Palamedes Swallowtail
        • Pterourus troilus - Spicebush Swallowtail
      • Hesperiidae : Eudaminae >
        • Aguna asander - Gold-spotted Aguna
        • Aguna claxon - Emerald Aguna
        • Autochton potrillo - Potrillo Skipper
        • Cecropterus dorantes - Dorantes Longtial
        • Chioides marmorosa - Cuban Longtail
        • Epargyreus zestos - Zestos Skipper
        • Phocides pigmalion - Mangrove Skipper
        • Polygonus leo - Hammock Skipper
        • Proteides maysi - May's Skipper
        • Proteides mercurius - Cuban Mercurial Skipper
        • Telegonus anausis - Caribbean Yellow-tipped Flasher
        • Telegonus cassander - Cuban Flasher
        • Telegonus cellus - Golden-banded Skipper
        • Telegonus habana - Frosty Flasher
        • Telegonus talus - Green Flasher
        • Telegonus xagua - Antillean Flasher
        • Urbanus proteus - Common Long-tailed Skipper
      • Hesperiidae : Hesperiinae >
        • Asbolis capucinus - Monk Skipper
        • Atalopedes mesogramma - Mesogramma Skipper
        • Calpodes ethlius - Canna Skipper
        • Carystoides mexicana - Mexican Ruby-eye
        • Choranthus radians - Radians Skipper
        • Cymaenes tripunctus - Three-spotted Skipper
        • Euphyes cornelius - Cornelius Skipper
        • Euphyes singularis - Singularis Skipper
        • Holguinia holguin - Holguin Skipper
        • Hylephila phyleus - Fiery Skipper
        • Lerodea eufala - Eufala Skipper
        • Nyctelius nyctelius - Violet-banded Skipper
        • Oarisma bruneri - Bruner's Skipperling
        • Oarisma nanus - Nanus Skipperling
        • Panoquina corrupta - Corrupt Skipper
        • Panoquina lucas - Purple-washed Skipper
        • Panoquina ocola - Ocola Skipper
        • Panoquina panoquinoides - Obscure Skipper
        • Parachoranthus magdalia - Magdalia Skipper
        • Perichares philetes - Caribbean Ruby-eye
        • Polites baracoa - Baracoa Skipper
        • Pyrrhocalles antiqua - Caribbean Skipper
        • Rhinthon cubana - Cuban Rhinthon
        • Saliana esperi - Perching Saliana
        • Synapte malitiosa - Caribbean Faceted Skipper
        • Wallengrenia misera - Cuban Broken-dash
      • Hesperiidae : Pyrginae >
        • Anastrus sempiternus - Common Anastrus
        • Burca braco - Braco Skipper
        • Burca concolor - Concolorous Skipper
        • Burca cubensis - Cuban Skipper
        • Burnsius crisia - Antillean Checkered Skipper
        • Burnsius oileus - Tropical Checkered Skipper
        • Chiomara gundlachi - Gundlach's Duskywing
        • Eantis munroei - Munroe's Sicklewing
        • Eantis papinianus - Cuban Sicklewing
        • Ephyriades brunnea - Florida Duskywing
        • Ephyriades zephodes - Zephodes Duskywing
        • Erynnis zarucco - Zarucco Skipper
        • Gesta gesta - Impostor Duskywing
        • Ouleus fridericus - Fridericus Spreadwing
      • Pieridae : Colladinae >
        • Abaeis nicippe - Sleepy Orange
        • Anteos clorinde - White-angled Sulphur
        • Anteos maerula - Yellow-angled Sulphur
        • Colias eurytheme - Orange Sulphur
        • Eurema amelia - Cuban Yellow
        • Eurema boisduvaliana - Boisduval's Yellow
        • Eurema daira - Barred Yellow
        • Eurema elathea - Banded Yellow
        • Eurema lucina - Smudged Yellow
        • Kricogonia cabrerai - Cuban Sulphur
        • Kricogonia lyside - Lyside Sulphur
        • Nathalis iole - Dainty Sulphur
        • Phoebis agarithe - Large Orange Sulphur
        • Phoebis argante - Apricot Sulphur
        • Phoebis avellaneda - Orange-washed Sulphur
        • Phoebis neleis - Neleis Sulphur
        • Phoebis orbis - Orbis Sulphur
        • Phoebis philea - Orange-barred Sulphur
        • Phoebis sennae - Cloudless Sulphur
        • Phoebis statira - Statira Sulphur
        • Pyrisitia chamberlaini - Chamberlain's Yellow
        • Pyrisitia dina - Bush Sulphur
        • Pyrisitia larae - Confusing Yellow
        • Pyrisitia lisa - Little Yellow
        • Pyrisitia messalina - Whitish Yellow
        • Pyrisitia nise - Mimosa Yellow
        • Pyrisitia proterpia - Tailed Orange
        • Pyrisitia venusta - Pale Yellow
        • Zerene cesonia - Southern Dogface
      • Pieridae : Dismorphiinae >
        • Dismorphia cubana - Cuban Mimic-White
      • Pieridae : Pierinae >
        • Ascia monuste - Great Southern White
        • Ganyra menciae - Cuban White
        • Glutophrissa drusilla - Florida White
        • Melete salacia - Black-striped White
        • Pontia protodice - Checkered White
      • Riodinidae >
        • Dianesia carteri - Caribbean Metalmark
      • Lycaenidae : Polyommatinae >
        • Brephidium exilis - Pygmy Blue
        • Cupido comyntas - Eastern Tailed-Blue
        • Cyclargus ammon - Nickerbean Blue
        • Cyclargus thomasi - Miami Blue
        • Hemiargus ceraunus - Ceraunus Blue
        • Leptotes cassius - Cassius Blue
        • Leptotes hedgesi - Hedges' Blue
        • Pseudochrysops bornoi - Antillean Blue
      • Lycaenidae : Theclinae >
        • Allosmaitia coelebs - Cuban Hairstreak
        • Chlorostrymon maesites - Amethyst Hairstreak
        • Chlorostrymon simaethis - Silver-banded Hairstreak
        • Electrostrymon angelia - Fulvous Hairstreak
        • Eumaeus atala - Atala Hairstreak
        • Ministrymon azia - Grey Ministreak
        • Nesiostrymon celida - Caribbean Hairstreak
        • Strymon acis - Bartram's Scrub-Hairstreak
        • Strymon bazochii - Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak
        • Strymon istapa - Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak
        • Strymon limenia - Limenia Scrub-Hairstreak
        • Strymon martialis - Martial Scrub-Hairstreak
        • Strymon toussainti - Toussaint's Scrub-Hairstreak
      • Nymphalidae : Apaturinae >
        • Asterocampa idyja - Dusky Emperor
        • Doxocopa laure - Silver Emperor
      • Nymphalidae : Biblidinae >
        • Dynamine postverta - Mexican Sailor
        • Dynamine serina - Caribbean Sailor
        • Eunica heraclitus - Cuban Purplewing
        • Eunica monima - Dingy Purplewing
        • Eunica tatila - Florida Purplewing
        • Hamadryas amphinome - Red Cracker
        • Hamadryas februa - Gray Cracker
        • Hamadryas feronia - Variable Cracker
        • Lucinia sida - Caribbean Banner
      • Nymphalidae : Charaxinae >
        • Anaea cubana - Cuban Leafwing
        • Archaeoprepona demophoon - Two-spotted Prepona
        • Cymatogramma echemus - Chestnut Leafwing
        • Hypna clytemnestra - Silver-studded Leafwing
        • Siderone galanthis - Red-striped Leafwing
      • Nymphalidae : Cyrestinae >
        • Marpesia chiron - Many-banded Daggerwing
        • Marpesia eleuchea - Caribbean Daggerwing
      • Nymphalidae : Danainae >
        • Anetia briarea - Many-spotted King
        • Anetia cubana - Cuban King
        • Anetia pantherata - Great King
        • Danaus eresimus - Soldier
        • Danaus gilippus - Queen
        • Danaus plexippus - Monarch
        • Greta cubana - Cuban Clearwing
        • Lycorea halia - Tiger Mimic Queen
      • Nymphalidae : Heliconiinae >
        • Agraulis vanillae - Gulf Fritillary
        • Dryas iulia - Flambeau
        • Eueides isabella - Isabella's Heliconian
        • Euptoieta claudia - Variegated Fritillary
        • Euptoieta hegesia - Mexican Fritillary
        • Heliconius charithonia - Zebra Heliconian
      • Nymphalidae : Libytheinae >
        • Libytheana carinenta - American Snout
        • Libytheana motya - Cuban Snout
        • Libytheana terena - Antillean Snout
      • Nymphalidae Limenitinae >
        • Adelpha iphicleola - Iphicleola Sister
        • Limenitis archippus - Viceroy
      • Nymphalidae : Nymphalinae >
        • Anartia chrysopelea - Cuban Peacock
        • Anartia jatrophae - White Peacock
        • Anthanassa frisia - Cuban Crescent
        • Antillea pelops - Antillean Crescent
        • Atlantea perezi - Cuban Checkerspot
        • Colobura dirce - Mosaic
        • Historis acheronta - Tailed Cecropian
        • Historis odius - Stinky Leafwing
        • Hypanartia paullus - Antillean Mapwing
        • Hypolimnas misippus - The Mimic
        • Junonia coenia - Common Buckeye
        • Junonia neildi - Mangrove Buckeye
        • Junonia zonalis - Tropical Buckeye
        • Phyciodes phaon - Phaon Crescent
        • Polygonia interrogationis - Question Mark
        • Siproeta stelenes - Malachite
        • Vanessa atalanta - Red Admiral
        • Vanessa cardui - Painted Lady
        • Vanessa virginiensis - American Lady
      • Nymphalidae : Satyrinae >
        • Calisto aquilum - Cuban Dark Calisto
        • Calisto bradleyi - Bradley's Calisto
        • Calisto brochei - Broche's Calisto
        • Calisto bruneri - Bruner's Calisto
        • Calisto disjunctus - Western Cuban Calisto
        • Calisto dissimulatum - Mimic Calisto
        • Calisto gundlachi - Gandlach's Calisto
        • Calisto herophile - Cuban Common Calisto
        • Calisto israeli - Israel's Calisto
        • Calisto lastrai - Lastra's Calisto
        • Calisto muripetens - Guamuahaya Calisto
        • Calisto occulta - Hidden Calisto
        • Calisto sharkeyae - Sharkey's Calisto
        • Calisto siguanensis - Sand Calisto
        • Calisto smintheus - Cuban Rusty Calisto
        • Calisto torrei - Torre's Calisto
    • Download Species List
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      • Papilionidae - Swallowtails
      • Hesperiidae - Skippers
      • Pieridae - Whites & Yellows
      • Riodinidae / Lycaenidae - Metalmarks, Hairstreaks & Blues
      • Nymphalidae - Nymphalids
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      • Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
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days 1 & 2 – 16/17 June - Excellent start at Vinales

10/7/2015

1 Comment

 
Our flight to Habana with Virgin Atlantic was on time and after the usual delay at the airport waiting for the luggage to be off-loaded (never a good first impression for those arriving in Cuba for the first time) we met our driver Duviel and transferred to the Hotel Parque Central in the centre of Habana where we were greeted with the news that we had been upgraded to the Presidential Suite! Now this is Habana not London but it was still a very spacious and comfortable room with separate changing rooms and large en-suite. It over-looked a large tree-covered park and in the morning we watched Grey Kingbird, American Kestrel, Cuban Martin and even Cuban Emerald from the balcony.

Eastern Tailed-Blue © Tim Norriss
Cuban Snout © Tim Norriss
Picture
Bahaman Swallowtail © Tim Norriss
Oviedo Swallowtail larva © Tim Norriss
A walk in the forest the next day produced the third record for Cuba of Eastern Tailed-Blue Cupido comyntas - until it was taken by a wasp that is! The discovery of this species has just been written up in the Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 69(2), 2015, 142 –143 and describes the finding of two males (at this same site) on 4 July 2014. Our individual was also a male so a female has yet to be found on Cuba.

In the morning Duviel returned, with our guide Rayner, to collect us and we drove on to Vinales and checked in to the Los Jazmines Hotel with its wonderful view over the valley. We had been told that the food wasn’t great here at the hotel but after eating out for a couple of nights at local restaurants we found that, contrary to what we had been told, the service and the food here was better. Our first two days were spent exploring the fields and edges of the mogotes around Vinales. Mogote is the name for the distinctive limestone outcrops that are dotted through the landscape around Vinales. In the first couple of hours we had seen five species of Swallowtail including this Bahaman Swallowtail Heraclides andraemon though our sightings of Cuban Kite Swallowtail Eurytides celadon were very unsatisfactory as this is a fast-flying species that rarely seems to stop and consequently seems to have been rarely photographed. It was therefore high on our target list to get good pictures. We also saw a few larvae of Oviedo’s Swallowtail Heraclides oviedo with more than a passing resemblance to a wet and slimy bird dropping. We also disturbed several of the pyralid moth Conchylodes diphteralis.
The distinctive song of Cuban Solitaire was common around the vertical walls of the mogotes and it was here close to the limestone face that we saw our first Calisto aquilum. All the eleven Calisto species in Cuba are endemic to the island and Rayner is the person who has carried out the detailed morphological research and arranged and analysed the DNA results to show the true status.

One of the exciting finds on the first day was of two skipper larvae within a leaf shelter. Rayner didn’t recognise them though later worked out that they were likely to be Erynnis zarucco Zarucco Duskywing – this later proved to be the case when the adults emerged. This wasn’t a species that we had come across before on our winter visits though it is said to be widespread and common so either the status has changed or perhaps it only flies during the summer.

Calisto aquilum © Rayner Nunez
Zarucco Duskywing larval shelter © Tim Norriss
male Zarucco Duskywing © Rayner Nunez
Zarucco Duskywing larva © Tim Norriss
Further along the path a strange noise alerted us to the plight of a frog that had been caught by a small Dusky Dwarf Boa Tropidophis melanurus. The frog had been grabbed by a back leg and the boa then wrapped its coils around its hapless prey to subdue it. The frog’s defence of pumping itself up was to no avail and half an hour later the snake had transferred its bite to the head and was in the process of devouring it. I thought the tail of the snake was interesting – it looks like a worm and perhaps this is used to trick its prey into coming into range. This is a non-venemous snake that is also known as the Giant Trope or Cuban Wood Snake. We also saw several superb anoles (lizards) and photographed a very obliging Cuban Snout Libytheana motya.
Dusky Dwarf Boa Tropidophis melanurus 16 Jun 2015 Vinales © Tim Norriss
Dusky Dwarf Boa Tropidophis melanurus 16 Jun 2015 Vinales © Tim Norriss
Leiocephalus macropus 17 Jun 2015 Vinales © Tim Norriss
Anolis mestrei 17 Jun 2015 Vinales © Tim Norriss
Anolis sagrei male 17 Jun 2015 Vinales © Tim Norriss
Anolis sagrei female 17 Jun 2015 Vinales © Tim Norriss
In the afternoon Rayner and I walked to the base of another mogote where he had previously found Calisto bradleyi some years previously and it is good to report that it still occurs there. Note the small blue scales in the black spot at the anal angle of the hindwing. It is currently known only from this 150m stretch of narrow tree cover where it is found only within about 20m of the base of the rock face. It is known only from one other specimen found higher up on another mogote. On the way back there was a Eufala Skipper Lerodea eufala sitting on the track.

Picture
Conchylodes diphteralis 16 Jun 2015 © Tim Norriss
Calisto bradleyi © Tim Norriss
Eufala Skipper © Tim Norriss
A short walk near the hotel in the evening produced Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus and Limenia Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon limenia while we also found a couple of moths attracted to the hotel lights. 59 species of Hawk-moth (Sphinx in the Americas) have been recorded on Cuba and this one, the Mournful Sphinx Enyo lugubris, is widespread throughout Southern and Central America, the Caribbean and the southern states of North America. The other is Cosmosoma auge, a member of the Sub-Family Arctiinae and has a very similar distribution.
Mournful Sphinx Enyo lugubris © Tim Norriss
Cosmosoma auge © Tim Norriss
Hemiargus ceraunus Ceraunus Blue male 17 Jun 2015 Vinales © Tim Norriss
Limenia Scrub-Hairstreak female 17 Jun 2015 Vinales © Tim Norriss
1 Comment
Richard Kern link
7/8/2018 09:12:57 pm

Do you have a list of the butterfly species that are found both in Cuba and Florida?

Reply



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