This was a stable sight in the arboretum at La Selva. This is Anartia fatima. Apparently one of the commonest butterflies in Central America, it prefers disturbed areas along rivers. The adults only fly for about two weeks so there must be a steady supply of them. There was always ten or twenty at the arboretum on the ferns along the creek.

This was on the ferns at the arboretum near the Anartia flight site. Fits fairly closely the description of the Anartia cat. I will presume it is for now.

This is a Eumaeus species. Apparently E. godartii according to T. Chiu. Related to the Florida E. atala, there are apparently several other species in the genus in Central America. The caterpillars are beautiful bright toxic colors including reds. One species feeds on Zamia in Belize. The Florida species feeds on Cycads as well. There are no manuals on the hairstreak relations for Costa Rica.

A Eumaeus species from Belize. We saw several of these in various sizes and they are likely all E. toxea. Compare with above. Spots certainly more yellowish and the reds are deeper red. Many were along a more open trail but I did see some separately in the primary forest trails.

A more typical looking member of the Lycaenidae. I have no lists for the La Selva area for this family. If you know something I don't email me. I think it is likely in the genus Electrostrymon.

And a Red-banded Hairstreak or the jungle's spitting image of one in a different species. I believe the Dusky-blue Groundstreak occurs into CA as well. I saw several other hairstreaks that did not pose for me at La Selva. Including a sky blue model with turquoise spots.

A hairstreak torture species. Though I think it is in Lamprospilus, I cannot be sure. I have not seen any other species specifically holding the hindwings open in this pose. This is from Panama in the Canopy Tower area.

Red-spotted Hairstreak appropriately named (thought there are several others in CA with red spots). From the Plantation road area of the Canopy Tower in Panama. This is Tmolus echion, apparently widespread.

A Hairstreak that may have to remain nameless for now. This was a tiny thing in Belize. Smaller than the above hairstreaks by 30%. I think it is also in Calycopis and may be close to C. demonassa.

A fancier Hairstreak which is apparently quite distinctive in Belize, this is the Zebra Crosstreak, Panthiades bathildes. Was perching in Belize in an open grassy area near the suspension bridge at Chan Chich.

Compare with this butterfly from Panama. This is another hairstreak in the genus Arawacus, very close to A. togarna. Looks reverse patterned from the above. Several seen on the road up to the Canopy Tower.

One of the Eyemarks. In the genus Mesosemia, these are in the Devries Volume 2 but I am not sure of the species anyway. Apparently an extremely disordered group as far as scientific knowledge goes. They are often seen with their leaftop display habits but not often identified. There are many rare species. This is something close to M. asa without the white under bar. The genus feeds on Rubiaceae.

Another Eyemark. This is in another related genus. Perophthalma lasus. Apparently common though not encountered commonly, if you know what I mean.

Eyemark from Belize. This may be the Purple-washed Eyemark, Mesosemia lamachus. Species are better defined in Belize. Possibly only three or four in this genus there.

Exterior of the same Purple-washed. Kept returning to the same leaf top.

And from Panama another eyemark without blue or purple washings. I believe this is Mesosemia hesperina. I don't think it occurs in MX and does not appear in Glassberg's book.

An Emesis Metalmark. Or one of them. This is Emesis lucinda aurimna. Same genus as the Zela and Ares Metalmarks of TX and AZ. Known for perching under leaves and holding the antenna together and straight out. I suppose you could call this a characteristic pose.

A Calephelis Metalmark from La Selva. This is the most disorganized genus in the Central American groups. Possibly just because no one has had the time or courage ot do all those little bitty genital dissections. Note how much this looks like our own local Northern Metalmark. This was in a grassy area next to a marsh.

Another Calephelis Metalmark. No better organized when they are from Panama. One of the bright (as opposed to dark) scintillant's. From the Old Gamboa road area of the Canopy Tower region.

Almost certainly a Detritivora Metalmark from Panama. Possibly D. barnesi. Don't know if this genus is better defined. It must be. These were very common on sunlit leaftops on the Semiphore road walk and other areas in May 2009 there.

And if you think the Hairstreaks are up in the air, try the Neotropical skippers. Jeesh. I saw at least twenty different species. And they were not photogenic. This skipper is the largest I have ever seen. It was four inches across the spread wings. I could not believe it was a skipper. But I cannot imagine what else it is. If it had flown at the speed of our small grass skippers then it could have taken over the forest. But it was relatively slow and floppy. This animal is not in Glassberg's book of Mexican butterflies. It was on the river trail at La Selva.

A skipper beauty. And more normal sized. Lovely creams and chocolates. I had no idea. Tommy Chiu who has been photographing in Central America states this is Saliana triangularis. And it has been found in Costa Rica. Four species in the genus may occur there. See the plate of Saliana here. I find now there are about twenty species in the genus and most are in South America. Frankly, after looking through the southern Mexican species I think this is Saliana antoninus. One of those species known in MX and Brazil. Likely in other CA countries.

Almost certainly another Saliana species, this one from Belize. Appears closest to S. fusta. Perching on a flowering shrub just behind the Lodge we stayed at in Chan Chich.

A flashy spreadwing skipper that was zipping around the flowers at the base of the Canopy Tower in Panama. This is the male of the Dimorphic Skipper, Hyalothyrus neleus. Female has none of the white markings and has an orange face.

A skipper beauty-beauty I think Cheryl would say, you know, having absorbed Norm's behaviors and wanting to top my skipper above. This one was from the central valley in San Jose. Norm thinks it is Thespieus macareus, the Chestnut-marked Skipper from Glassberg's new butterflies of Mexico.

A wild flying relation to our Silver-spotted Skipper. This is likley the Spined Silverdrop, Apargyreus spina. Several in the genus in Belize, where this guy was. Round and round and down the trail and back over and over until it stopped on this poop spot repeatedly. Made me dizzy.

And the skippers in Panama were numerous. This is Autochton longipennis, the Narrow-banded Skipper. There are a heard of butterflies in this genus. They are related to our Golden-banded Skipper. Quick and territorial for their sunny perches.

I thought this was a Panoquina relation when I shot it. Turns out this is Niconiades nikko, the Olive Nicon. I know nothing about its biology except the cats eat Bamboo. There were several giant stands of it nearby here on Old Gamboa road in Panama.

I narrowed this to one of the Parphorus Brown-Skippers, but I could be wrong. Several genera that Glassberg lumps in the common name group under Brown-Skipper. Kim Garwood has one on her list for the Tower area in Panama that she does not name to species. I assume we may have the same one. Similar to P. decora but I cannot be sure.