Phoebis argante - Apricot Sulphur

Phoebis argante Apricot Sulphur fem 26 Nov 2021 Baracoa © Yosiel Alvarez

Back in November Yosiel Alvarez made a trip to the east of the island around Moa and Baracoa. He has kindly sent me some butterfly photos that he took on that trip. The above is a female Apricot Sulphur Phoebis argante which is an uncommon species though found throughout the island. We have seen males on a handful of occasions on our visits - and never a female. Yosiel thinks that it is perhaps the first time that a female has been photographed in the wild in Cuba - I certainly don't know of any others. Well done Yosiel. He also managed to photograph a Tailed Orange Pyrisitia proterpia which is almost restricted to the eastern part of the island though it does also occur on the Isla de Juventud south of Zapata. It can be distinguished from the similar-shaped Eurema boisduvaliana by the thick black bar along the costa of the upper forewing. This one is a male as it lacks the orange marbling on the underside of the hindwing.

Pyrisitia proterpia Tailed Orange male 21 Nov 2021 Baracoa © Yosiel Alvarez