Central America - Honduras

[Kip]

Over New Year last time round I visited Emerald Valley in Honduras (check it out online), a paradise of nectar plants in an area of rainforest pationately nutured for years now by a wonderful couple of butterfly experts - a long time in coming, but I hope you like a few of the tropical species their property attracts..... I intend to add to this over time.... here's a starter....


Timochares fasciatus. - Many, or Five banded Skipper

Mylon maimon. - Common Mylon

[Kip]

Urbanus pronta. - Spot-banded Longtail

[Kip]

Cecropterus albimargo. - White-edged Longtail

[Kip]

Chioides albofasciatus. - White-striped Longtail

[Kip]

Cecropterus zarex. - Sharp-banded Skipper.

[petesmith]

Nice start Paul! Takes me straight back to my time out in Costa Rica with the sheer diversity of Skippers to be found.

Looking forward to plenty more! Keep them coming.

ATB. Pete

[bugboy]

Those first two Skippers!

[Rogerdodge]

Lovely stuff Paul.
Like to see some more.......

[David M]

Those first two Skippers!

Something else, aren't they!?

[Kip]

Thanks for your supportive comments.. encouraged, so here are some of the large (4-5cm wingtip to wingtip) and bejewelled Telegonus species, identified as best I can.....

Telegonus azul (Two-barred Flasher) ,,,,

Telegonus alector (Gilbert's Flasher) ...

Telegonus weymeri (Weymer's Flasher) ...

Telegonus alardus, (Frosted Flasher) ...

[petesmith]

The "Flashers" are particularly striking - they don't look that special at rest or at nectar, but then they fly off and you get hit with a blast of vivid iridescence! Stunning!

[Kip]

Quite right... they are also relatively easy to photograph, as they nectar or perch without fear.

[NickMorgan]

Wow! What fantastic pictures. I have followed Robert on Facebook for a couple of years and have his fabulous book on the Butterflies of Honduras. I would love to go to Emerald Valley some day. It sounds so good.

[Kip]

All I can say is DO IT!!!!!! Something worth saving for I promise you

[Kip]

A couple of different species of "White Skipper" now......

Heliopetes arsalte, Veined White-Skipper....

and Heliopetes alana, Alana White-Skipper....

[David M]

With gale force winds and a red "danger to life" weather warning imminent, it's so good to be transported vicariously to somewhere warm, calm and with heaps of spectacular butterflies.

[Kip]

Duplicate posted in error so removed

[Kip]

Colossus is the right name for these, the largest Skippers I have seen.... Narcosius colossus - Colossal Flasher, and, I think, Narcosius janiera, Schaus' Flasher though I'm not sure, they could all be colossus ....... Emerald Valley, Honduras, 1 year ago..

Narcosius colossus..

Narcosius janiera..

[Kip]

I think these are Aguna panama, Panamanian Aguna, and Aguna claxon, Emerald Aguna......

Aguna panama...

Aguna claxon...

[Padfield]

Really wonderful butterflies, Paul. And just the skippers so far ...

I, too, bought Robert Gallardo's book as soon as it came out, though I don't expect to get to Honduras any time soon.

I hope you're going to post some more.

Guy