Digression: Butterflies in the Cordillera del Cóndor

Before we leave this remote corner of southeastern Ecuador, I want to show you a few of the butterflies that appear during intervals between rain. If anyone can help with identifying the ones I don't know (or correcting the ones I think I know), please speak up!

Enjoy!

The metalmarks of the New World tropics have evolved a wide array of dazzling species.

 Meneria Metalmark (Amarynthis meneria) 

(Photos by Narca)

 Metalmark species

The nymphalids are likewise well-represented. Let's start with a few of the more familiar ones.

Clymena Eighty-eight (Diaethria clymena)

One of the sisters, an Adelpha species

The very familiar Malachite (Siproeta stelenes)

Here's an unknown––and possibly unknowable––nymphalid. The falcate wingtips are like those of the daggerwings. Look at the ruby eyes!

One of my favorites, a big Orion Cecropian (Historis odius)

The Orion's host plant is Cecropia.

 I'm not sure of this one, but it looks like a species of Mimic-Queen

A large satyr of the deep forest, Pierella lamia

This purplewing is probably a species of Eunica (above and below)

A few skippers were about; this may be a duskywing in the genus Ebrietas

 This one I won't even guess at, though it strikes me as a moth! Help, anyone?

Let's end with a jewel! We had seen this metalmark several years ago in Brownsburg, Suriname, where Noel christened it "Tinkerbell".

The Castilia Metalmark (Caria castalia)

And to continue the invertebrate theme, here's an impressive spider gate on the road out of Yankuam!

The Butterflies of Oz

Male Cairns Birdwing (Photo by Narca)

We weren't in Australia at the best season for butterflies to be on the wing, yet a few were flying in the tropical northeast, and the butterfly house at Kuranda gives splendid photo ops at any time, of several showy species, including the spectacular Cairns Birdwing. Birdwings are in the swallowtail family.

Most of Australia's 416 butterfly species live in the rainforest, monsoon forest, and other moist habitats of the northern and eastern rims of the continent. The vast, dry interior has many fewer species.

Black Jezebel on bottlebrush (Photo by Narca)

Whites and sulphurs are gorgeously represented by the jezebels. We found Black Jezzies from the base of Mt. Lewis, to Inskip Point, to the Iron Range. Most were nectaring on flowering eucalypts.

Harlequin Metalmark in Iron Range (Photo by Narca)

Those of you familiar with the stunning array of gemlike metalmarks in the American tropics may be surprised to learn that only a single metalmark occurs in Australia, the Harlequin, which we were lucky to find in the Iron Range.

Lesser Wanderers (Photo by Narca)

Lesser Wanderers are relatives of the familiar Monarch, and they were flying at Townsville Commons.

For a slide show of more Australian butterflies, click on the link to my art gallery––and enjoy!