One of the reasons for coming to Cayo Coco is that there is a skipper (Hesperiidae) that occurs here and the surrounding area and nowhere else on Cuba. It is the Zestos Skipper Epargyreus zestos. That combined with the fact that we had been told that Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri can also be found here was enough to tempt us. The Metalmark had so far eluded us on our previous 11 trips to Cuba apart from just one very brief possible sighting a couple of years ago. It is not easy to see during the day as it is said to be mainly crepuscular.
We decided to explore one of the trails in the forest today to look for both species. I say forest but it was more like thick impenetrable scrub and trees about 15ft high. We walked along the road to where it started and then walked slowly along the trail stopping to watch for a while at each nectar source. Lynn announced that she had got something but wasn't sure what it was so I got binoculars on it and saw a.... Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri. I managed three quick shots from where I stood before it flew and only one was in semi-focus. Lynn glimpsed it again briefly later but that was it not seen again - they are not easy. And within 15 minutes we were getting brief views of Zestos Skipper Epargyreus zestos too coming to same small white flowers of a tree. What a great result. But if you want to see much better pictures of both these species can can click on the species page links above.
We decided to explore one of the trails in the forest today to look for both species. I say forest but it was more like thick impenetrable scrub and trees about 15ft high. We walked along the road to where it started and then walked slowly along the trail stopping to watch for a while at each nectar source. Lynn announced that she had got something but wasn't sure what it was so I got binoculars on it and saw a.... Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri. I managed three quick shots from where I stood before it flew and only one was in semi-focus. Lynn glimpsed it again briefly later but that was it not seen again - they are not easy. And within 15 minutes we were getting brief views of Zestos Skipper Epargyreus zestos too coming to same small white flowers of a tree. What a great result. But if you want to see much better pictures of both these species can can click on the species page links above.
The butterflies in the afternoon were a bit more obliging for photography. One of the most common and widespread is the Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae.
Cuban Brown Anole Anolis sagrei 13 Jun 2019 Cayo Coco © Tim Norriss
Greater Antillean Grackle collecting nest material 13 Jun 2019 Cayo Coco © Tim Norriss
We found a spot where there were about 10 Mexican Fritillary Euptoieta hegesia including this female ovipositing. And it was nice to see clearly the differences between males and females. The females look a lot more like Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia but lack the wiggly black line across the centre of the upper hindwing of E. claudia. Fiery Skipper Hylephila phyleus were quite common too.
And I couldn't resist more pictures of Lyside Sulphur Kricogonia lyside as we had never seen them in such numbers before. The paler greenish tinge of the female hindwing with its raised whitish central vein was very different from the pale yellow of the male.
We watched as two very fresh female Caribbean Daggerwing Marpesia eleuchea nectared on the Black Mangrove Avicennia germinans flowers. Females lack the black wingtips of the males, and although I knew that there were two tails on each hindwing I hadn't noticed before that the inner ones turn downwards. The reason for this only becomes clear when seen from the rear. In the third picture below you can clearly see that this is an anti-predator mechanism with two blue-grey eyes and two large horns on the sides. I've no idea what it might deter but perhaps a bird is most likely.
Cuban Broken-dash Wallengrenia misera seemed commoner than we had noted elsewhere but Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae were surprisingly scarce.
The folk staying at the adjacent hotel have to cross a small bridge over a channel to get to the beach and in the channel there were quite a varied selection of fish. One seems to be a needlefish but I don't know which species.
We were amazed to see Peter Stringfellow in the restaurant in the evening reincarnated as Bernard Meyer the hotel manager! It always made us chuckle when we saw him and it was difficult not to say 'hello Peter'.
Bernard Meyer, hotel manager Meliá Cayo Coco.
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