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 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. Including a sky blue model with turquoise spots.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.