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
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day 3 - 17 June - Villa Maguana

9/9/2016

1 Comment

 
Villa Maguana is situated 22km west of Baracoa and has a small number of two story villa blocks situated right next to a lovely beach. No swimming pool full of green slime here! Just the beautiful warm Caribbean. This was not the high season and the hotel was quiet. Lynn chatted with a lady from Argentina who had taught English there and had visited England many times. She and her husband who were driving themselves across Cuba back to Havana were the only other people staying at hotel.
While Doug and I went exploring Lynn talked to Roebis the gardener who was a geography graduate. He spoke good English and Lynn gave him a dictionary and some books and crayons for his children. She then sat and drank liquorice tea with Leandro while we were butterflying around the hotel. Leandro told her that he had loved butterflies as a child but when 11 he had hurt his leg badly while chasing them - and still has the two scars to prove it.
Villa Maguana beach
Villa Maguana beach
There were a few butterflies in the garden but the adjacent fenced area looked even more promising and we found we could access it by going around the end of the fence by the beach. It turned out to be a small coconut plantation with scattered low scrub and we straight away started finding some interesting things. First were some larval shelters of May's Skipper Proteides maysi. Unfortunately there were no larvae - presumably all predated. There are 55 species of skipper in Cuba so plenty to keep up the interest and always new things to learn, well for us anyway. Doug showed us a couple of final instar larvae of Mangrove Skipper Phocides pigmalion feeding on Melicoccus bijugatus. This is a distinctive plant with its dark green leaves and and winged petioles. It is a member of the Sapindaceae rather than a mangrove Rhizophora. I'm always amazed how much larvae vary from one instar to the next. Take a look at the highlighted species page above to see how much the final instar varies from earlier instars.
Mangrove Skipper Phocides pigmalion final instar larva 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Mangrove Skipper Phocides pigmalion final instar larva 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
There was also a Monk Skipper Asbolis capucinus larva hiding under the turned down edges of a palm frond. There are about 3,500 species of skippers world-wide in the family Hesperiidae. This is currently split into seven sub-familes of which three are found in Cuba - the Hesperiinae feeding on Monocots eg grasses, palms and lily-type plants, and the other two feeding on Dicots, the Eudaminae which include the tailed skippers and generally hold their wings half open when settled and the Pyrginae which are also known as the spread-winged skippers that hold their wings flat when settled. There are only two skipper species whose larvae feed on palms in Cuba, the other being the Caribbean Skipper Pyrrhocalles antiqua. Both make similar shelters in palm fronds so you need to open them to see the larva which on A. capucinus (below) has a plain head and on P. antiqua has several narrow vertical black lines.
Monk Skipper Asbolis capucinus leaf shelter on palm 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Monk Skipper Asbolis capucinus larva on palm 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
I watched a female Miami Blue Cyclargus thomasi inspecting a Stigmaphyllon leaf that already had two eggs laid on the upper surface. On another shoot of the same plant were three eggs of Florida Duskywing Ephyriades brunnea but its eggs are much more dome-shaped compared to C. thomasi. It was interesting to watch the ant seemingly checking on these eggs - I wonder if the larvae would be at risk from the ant unlike the thomasi larvae which I watched being attended by what appeared to be the same ant species on the same plant as it fed on the sweet droplets exuded by the larva. Shame about the rubbish picture but I had the camera on the wrong settings!
Coconut plantation
Miami Blue Cyclargus thomasi 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Miami Blue Cyclargus thomasi egg 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Florida Duskywing Ephyriades brunnea eggs 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Doug then found a Whitish Yellow Pyrisitia messalina larva and pupa! And then followed that up by finding two pre-pupae of Atala Hairstreak Eumaeus atala and then a couple of adults. This butterfly is quite unlike any other Hairstreaks and in fact could be confused with a similar-coloured moth.
Whitish Yellow Pyrisitia messalina larva 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Whitish Yellow Pyrisitia messalina pupa 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Atala Hairstreak Eumaeus atala pre-pupae 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Atala Hairstreak Eumaeus atala 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
After lunch we went a short distance along the road to the east and, after finding another Anolis species that I can't yet identify next to the road, we spent some time photographing Cornelius Skipper Euphyes cornelius and Singularis Skipper Euphyes singularis along the wayleave of the power cables. I also managed my first half-decent shots of De Villiers' Swallowtail Battus devilliers.
Anolis sp 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Anolis argenteolus 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Cornelius Skipper 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Singularis Skipper 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
wayleave habitat 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Battus devilliers 17 Jun 2016 Villa Maguana © Tim Norriss
Picture
Mesogramma Skipper Atalopedes mesogramma egg
1 Comment
Diane Moyle link
26/7/2019 07:04:53 am

Hello! I am from the entomology section of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. We are writing a Lucid key to identify caterpillars that will be free for anyone to use. We would love to use your excellent photograph of the skipper larva in its silk-lined shelter, which illustrates the powdery appearance of the silk that is a feature of the hesperiids. Full image credit will be given, of course.
Please contact me at di.moyle@tmag.tas.gov.au
Many thanks,
Di

Reply



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