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
    • Thumbnails >
      • Papilionidae - Swallowtails
      • Hesperiidae - Skippers
      • Pieridae - Whites & Yellows
      • Riodinidae / Lycaenidae - Metalmarks, Hairstreaks & Blues
      • Nymphalidae - Nymphalids
    • Hostplants >
      • Picramnia pentrandra
      • Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
    • Other Wildlife >
      • Mammals
      • Reptiles
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Odonata
      • Moths >
        • Tineoidea
        • Gelechioidea
        • Alucitoidea
        • Pterophoroidea
        • Schreckensteinioidea
        • Urodoidea
        • Choreutoidea
        • Tortricoidea
        • Sesioidea
        • Zygaenoidea
        • Pyraloidea
        • Lasiocampoidea
        • Bombicoidea
        • Geometroidea
        • Hedyloidea
        • Noctuoidea
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Chuck-Will's-Widow

30/9/2021

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Picture
Chuck-will's-widow Sept 2021 Habana © Jorge Uría
There are five species of Goatsuckers (Caprimulgidae) that have occurred in Cuba. I have blogged about the two species that breed on the island which are the Cuban Nightjar and the Antillean Nighthawk. In addition to those are Common Nighthawk which is a transient in spring and autumn on its way to winter in South America, the Eastern Whip-poor-will which has only occurred once or twice as a vagrant, and Chuck-will's-widow which occurs as both a transient and a winter resident. Roberto Jovel took some wonderful photos of one near Baracoa last December here and the picture above was taken by Jorge Uría. Thank you Jorge.
Chuck-will's-widow breed in the south-east of North America down to Florida. During winter they move south to the Caribbean, central America and as far as Venezuela. They are the largest in the family in North America and eat mainly flying insects like moths, dragonflies and beetles including June beetles, scarabs, long-horn beetles, and click beetles. Very occasionally, they have been seen eating birds such as Hooded, Palm, Yellow, and Cape May Warblers, Common Yellow-throat, Swamp Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Cuban Emerald as well as bats (All About Birds)!
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is this The ministerial code? Revised tory edition?

14/9/2021

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Lie
Cheat
Steal
Take bribes
Avoid tax
Keep the poor poor
Admit nothing
Blame others
Backslide
Deviate
Never answer any questions
Blag
Make shit up
Deceive
Misrepresent
Hypocrisy
Gaslight
Bully
Plagiarise
Take until nothings left

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Go Emma

14/9/2021

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Picture
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Oriente Warbler  (Teretistris fornsi)

12/9/2021

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Picture
Oriente Warbler 8 May 2021 Humboldt NP © Roberto Jovel
The Oriente Warbler is the eastern sister species of the Yellow-headed Warbler that is found in the west of Cuba extending along the south coast as far east as Cienfuegos. Both are endemic to Cuba and both occupy a similar niche feeding on insects, spiders and small reptiles. Thank you Roberto.
Picture
Yellow-headed Warbler Teretistris fernandinae 23 Jun 2015 Guanahacabibes © Tim Norriss
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Gervais's Funnel-eared Bat - Nyctiellus lepidus

6/9/2021

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The Butterfly Bat Nyctiellus lepidus is the smallest bat in Cuba and the third smallest on the planet. It lives exclusively in Cuba and the Bahamas, a nocturnal insectivore that can easily be confused with a moth. It is also known as Gervais's Funnel-eared Bat, in honour of the French naturalist Paul Gervais who discovered it for the first time in 1837, according to Gilberto Silva Taboada in his book The Bats of Cuba.
PictureNyctiellus lepidus Photo: Raudel Del Llano

It belongs to the Natalidae family and weighs about 2 grams. Females are larger than males. It has 38 teeth, a wide and short snout and the tail is long relative to its size. Its extended wingspan measures between 186 and 213 mm and the flight is very similar to butterflies, hence the common name. The fur is generally a yellow-brown colour, though there are populations that have more of an orange hue. They only roost in caves and are found to congregate in the warmest, most humid sections. They feed mainly on insects such as aphids, leaf hoppers, flies and mosquitos.
 
​Text by Yamilé Luguera Gonzalez and photos by Raudel Del Llano.
Picture
Nyctiellus lepidus Photo: Raudel Del Llano
And here is the summary of a recent paper written by Carlos A. Mancina about the surprising longevity of this bat.
"Over the last two decades there have been several longevity records of bats that have exceeded 20 years, mostly corresponding to Holarctic hibernating species, whereas such data of tropical bats is still scarce. Here we report the first longevity record for the Gervais´s Funnel-eared Bat, Nyctiellus lepidus (Gervais, 1837) (family Natalidae). We recaptured a male individual that had been banded 16.9 years previously in the same cave in Central Cuba. This species is endemic to Cuba (including Isla de la Juventud) and the Bahamas and is an obligate cave-dwelling bat. Weighing nearly 2 grams, N. lepidus is one of the world’s smallest bats. Based on longevity quotient (the ratio of observed to predicted longevity), we estimate that its lifespan is 3.9 times longer than expected for its body mass. This longevity record constitutes one of the longest in a non-hibernating insectivorous bat." Thank you Carlos.
Picture
Adult male Gervais´s funnel-eared bat, Nyctiellus lepidus (photo: Carlos A. Mancina).
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The Fishing Bat - Noctilio leporinus

4/9/2021

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Picture
Noctilio leporinus Photo: Raudel Del Llano
​Of the 27 species of Bats that are found in Cuba, 20 eat insects, 4 feed on nectar or pollen, 2 eat fruit and one catches fish from the sea, lakes and rivers: this last is called Noctilio leporinus and is one of the few Cuban bats that possesses a common name: the Fishing Bat.
It is found throughout the Cuban archipelago, including the Island of Youth, but it also lives in Mexico, Central America, the north of South America and the Greater and Lesser Antilles.
It is the largest of the Cuban bats; the male is larger than the female and can reach up to 87 grams in weight and has a wing extension of 71 centimetres.
Picture
Noctilio leporinus Photo: Raudel Del Llano
​It's head is wide and short, but projected. The fur is very short and varies in colour from dark brown to reddish brown, and from pale to orange. The great naturalist Juan Christopher Gundlach (1810-1896) wrote in 1872: ′′ This species varies greatly in the colour of its fur ".
Just occasionally a large daytime roost can be found in caves. It commonly gathers in smaller groups in hollow palm trunks and other trees, and it can also be often found singly.
It feeds mostly on small fish of 70 to 80 mm, both in freshwater or coastal areas. It also feeds on water beetles.
In Cuba, scientists have made observations of the Noctilio leporinus fishing in marshes. Gundlach also referred to having observed it “flying slowly after dusk over lagoons".
The robustness and flight characteristics of Fishing Bats have suggested to scientists, their ability to withstand long-distance flights. Studies conducted showed that individuals from a certain colony managed to return after being released within 30 miles of it. 
Noctilio leporinus Photo: Raudel Del Llano
Noctilio leporinus Photo: Raudel Del Llano
​Many of these facts are collected in the book ′′ The Bats of Cuba ", written by Gilberto Silva Taboada in 1979, a researcher and a speleologist who has dedicated his life to the study of these interesting creatures. In the Parque Nacional Caguanes, declared by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, also known as Cayo Caguanes, with more than 30 remarkable caves, in one of which is located a colony of this species.
Their large size and the confined space where they gather together means there is a strong smell of rotting fish, as their droppings are not dry like those of other bats, underneath the daytime roost can be found a moist and glittery cone-shaped hill of guano.
At the other extreme in size, there is also a large population of Butterfly Bats in Caguanes, which are the smallest bat to be found in Cuba - and the world's third smallest.  We'll talk about that in another article.
Picture
Noctilio leporinus Photo: Raudel Del Llano
Text by Yamilé Luguera Gonzalez and photos by Raudel Del Llano. My thanks go to both.
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