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 cubanus - unnamed Skipper
        • Urbanus proteus - Common Long-tailed Skipper
      • Hesperiidae : Hesperiinae >
        • Atalopedes mesogramma - Mesogramma Skipper
        • Calpodes ethlius - Canna Skipper
        • Carystoides mexicana - Mexican Ruby-eye
        • Choranthus capucinus - Monk Skipper
        • Choranthus orientis - Caribbean Skipper
        • Choranthus radians - Radians Skipper
        • Choranthus serranorum - Serrano 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
        • 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 >
        • Archimestra teleboas - The Widow
        • 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
        • Phyciodes tharos - Pearl 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 >
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day 2 - 16 June - alejandro de humboldt

11/7/2016

3 Comments

 
Early in the morning Lynn had a swim in the Miraflores hotel swimming pool. It had a green film over the surface and she was surprised there weren’t any ducks there as they would have loved it! We set off east from Moa towards the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park. Moa is a nickel mining town and many of the people staying in the hotel were in the mining industry. The mining is open cast and this was plain to see in the area east of the town as it is done on a large scale. We were told by Leandro that we were not allowed to take photos here presumably because this is not the picture of Cuba that the authorities want to show. We made a couple of stops further on once we were beyond the mines and here we noticed a steady trickle of butterflies moving north including Gray Cracker Hamadryas februa, Great Southern White Ascia monuste, White-angled Sulphur Anteos clorinde and Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae but best of all was a single Silver-studded Leafwing Hypna clytemnestra. This was a first for me and although it didn’t stop I had a clear enough view to be sure. Both Polydamas Swallowtail Battus polydamas and Cuban Kite Swallowtail Eurytides celadon with its distinctive blue colour flew past and we watched Mimosa Yellow Pyrisitia nise laying. There was also a small number of the endemic Orange-washed Sulphur Phoebis avellaneda. The road from Moa is paved as far as a few km beyond Yamanigüey but from there on is just a dusty stoned track so the going is much slower until a few km before you get to Baracoa.
When we arrived at the NP reception building there was a small statue of Humboldt himself. We paid a small fee and picked up our guide Leuvis Alpajón who would take us into the park for the rest of the day. It was hot and the tracks were steep and there were shallow rivers to cross though some of us managed this without removing our shoes and using the stepping stones. Only a short distance from the road Doug noticed a blue which he disturbed from a Stigmaphyllon and because this is the foodplant of Miami Blue Cyclargus thomasi he suspected that it was this species. We had to climb the bank to clinch it and there were three nectaring on the bushes above. Later in the day Doug found a larval shelter of Florida Duskywing Ephyriades brunnea which uses the same hostplant. The large larva had spun two leaves together and was sheltering between them.
Miami Blue Cyclargus thomasi Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Stigmaphyllon sp
Florida Duskywing Ephyriades brunnea larva Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Florida Duskywing Ephyriades brunnea larval shelter Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
It was hot and the track was steep in places but there were constantly new things to see including several species of Anole. Whilst Anolis porcatus is a widespread species Anolis rubribarbus is found only in this small region of eastern Cuba. Both are endemic to the island though A. porcatus has also been introduced to Spain and Tenerife! The third species that we saw was a Cuban Trunk Anole Anolis argenteolus.
Cuban Green Anole Anolis porcatus Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Cuban Tiger Anole Anolis rubribarbus Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Anolis argenteolus Cuban Trunk Anole - Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Our path took us through the river several times though it wasn't very deep and I managed to keep my shoes on and not get my feet wet. There are eleven species of Calisto described to date, all endemic to Cuba, and the commonest and most widespread of these is the Cuban Calisto Calisto herophile. There are several others in this area and we managed to see two of them Calisto bruneri and Calisto dissimulatum.
Calisto herophile Villa Maguana 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Calisto dissimulatum Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
In all our visits to Cuba to date we have only seen a Mosaic Colobura dirce once and never seen the immature stages. The larvae feed on Cecropia which is a common enough tree and so its always worth checking the leaves. On this occasion there were two small egg batches laid on the upper sides of the leaves. This tree is also used by Stinky Leafwing Historis odius but this lays its eggs on the leaf-tips or undersides of the leaves not on the upper surface.
Cecropia foodplant of Mosaic Colobura dirce Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Mosaic Colobura dirce eggs Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Mosaic Colobura dirce eggs Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Some good birds were in evidence today - lots of Cuban Tody were calling in the forest, a pair of Western Spindalis came quite close and a family party of Cuban Green Woodpeckers searched for grubs in the branches just over our heads. We heard Cuban Trogon calling for much of the time and I got what was probably my closest views ever though unfortunately partly obscured by vegetation.
Western Spindalis Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Cuban Green Woodpecker Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Cuban Trogon Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Cuban Trogon Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
The best was saved till almost last when a Cuban Checkerspot Atlantea perezi flew off ahead of us and settled much too briefly. It didn't like the ultrasound from the camera and this was the only shot that I got before it flew off into the forest and disappeared completely. This was one of the species that we had come to see and it was at one time thought to occur only here at the eastern end of Cuba but has since also been seen near Topes de Collantes in the Escambray Mountains and so is presumably resident there too. It was disappointing to get just one rather rubbish shot of this absolute stunner. We did see it at another site later in the trip but it was even less obliging. A small damselfly that I photographed here, and not surprisingly didn't recognise, has been identified subsequently as another endemic Hypolestes trinitatis. 
Cuban Checkerspot Atlantea perezi Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Hypolestes trinitatis Alejandro de Humboldt NP 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
After saying our goodbyes to Leuvis for an excellent afternoon we drove on eastwards to Villa Maguana which is an absolutely delightful place to stay with lovely accommodation, excellent food, beautiful sea to swim in and very friendly staff. We checked into our rooms, quick wash and change and out into the garden to explore while there was still light before dinner. Doug was quick to find larvae of Potrillo Skipper Cabares potrillo in larval shelters on the foodplant Priva lappulacea which was growing just outside our rooms.
Priva lappulacea Villa Maguana 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Cabares potrillo Potrillo Skipper egg and hatched egg on Priva lappulacea Villa Maguana 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Cabares potrillo Potrillo Skipper larval shelter on Priva lappulacea Villa Maguana 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Cabares potrillo Potrillo Skipper early instar larval shelter on Priva lappulacea Villa Maguana 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Cabares potrillo Potrillo Skipper small larva on Priva lappulacea Villa Maguana 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
Cabares potrillo Potrillo Skipper freshly moulted larva on Priva lappulacea Villa Maguana 16 Jun 2016 © Tim Norriss
3 Comments
Dash Cam Box link
7/9/2017 04:42:24 pm

Natural <3
did you captures these images from your own camera? Which one?

Reply
Tim
7/9/2017 08:11:15 pm

Yes, all the close-ups and scenic shots were taken with a Panasonic Lumix TZ40 while the birds, reptiles etc were taken with a Canon 7D with a Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS II

Reply
Panasonic Bone Conduction Headphones link
13/5/2018 07:24:28 pm

Wow great pics and great eye to have those clicks

Reply



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