Friends of Groyne No.4: Panama's Butterflies

Some years ago, when I had just competed the UK list of butterflies, I pondered "What next?" Well several forays into Europe extended my list and I mused about going further afield. On Friday the 5th of October I boarded a long and bum-numbing flight to Panama City, having signed up for Naturetrek's "Panama's Brilliant Butterflies". After an uneventful flight the sheer relief at being able to walk about was heavenly but it was soon curtailed by another three hours in a minibus. Finally we arrived to a very warm welcome at Canopy Lodge, meeting Linda, Jerry and Tino our guides for the forthcoming week. A hasty meal and I retired immediately - early evening in Panama - early morning in UK.

As I now sit and try to compose my diary and photographic record I realise the imposition of the travel was minor, compared with the huge rewards of seeing the immense bio diversity of the rain forest. Six days where just about everything was new, every minute filled with something to see and record - well that's when it wasn't raining - we were in the rainy season so what do you expect. Of course how could it be the rain forest without the odd downpour or two. That said, our first three days were dry and hot, perfect for seeing butterflies.

I start with an apology, some of these blogs are overly large but it is my diary and context is everything. Today we logged 122 Butterfly species, most of them new to me and I attempted to photograph as many as I could which means they are of mixed quality. I photographed the subjects as they came, no time to be picky and I am amazed by how much damage some of these butterflies have suffered. However, by the end of the week I must have seen countless flycatchers and one stole a butterfly from under my nose.

So, as day one dawned and with my body clock somewhere in front of me, I made my way to the lodge, primarily for a much needed coffee, but really to watch the dawn come up. Slowly the insect cacophony diminished and both butterflies and birds took to the wing. My first encounter in the dim light was probably a Pale Owl-Butterfly, Caligo telamonius menus, too dark for a positive ID but subsequent sightings were recorded in the same place.

In front of the lodge a Zygia tree was in full bloom, the overpowering scent so strong that it seemed to be flavouring my early morning brew. Naturally the butterflies were interested and they were searching out nectar in the twilight.

Butterflies nectaring before sun up - How odd!!

The morning continued in the same vein, everything new and coming fast, until a timely stop for breakfast. I swear that through breakfast most people had one eye on the garden, ready to grab the camera and capture another specimen. Post breakfast we had more time around the lodge until setting off for our first location - Las Minas.

Alana White-Skipper, Heliopetes alana

Banded Peacock, Anartia fatima

Bright Brangas, Brangas getus

Clio Crescent, Eresia clio

Common Blue-Skipper, Quadrus cerialis

Crimson-patch Checkerspot, Chlosyne janais

Cydno Longwing, Heliconius cydno chioneus

Deep-green Hairstreak, Theritas mavors

Diasia Clearwing, Ithomia diasia hippocrenis

Dinora Metalmark, Brachyglenis dinora

Dot-collared Firetip, Jemadia pseudognetus

Esmeralda Longtail, Urbanus esmeraldus

Godman's Sarota, Sarota myrtea

Great Southern White, Ascia monuste

Iphinassa Clearwing, Ithomia iphianassa

King's Leafwing, Memphis kingi

King's Leafwing, Memphis kingi

Lagora Metalmark, Leucochimona lagora

Lampeto Metalmark, Caria mantinea lampeto

Malachite, Siproeta stelenes

Many-banded Daggerwing, Marpesia chiron

Mimic Crescent, Castilia eranites

Narva Checkerspot, Chlosyne narva

Orange Mapwing, Hypanartia lethe

Orange Patch Crescent, Anthanassa d. drusilla

Orange Striped Emesis, Emesis cypria

Pale Sicklewing, Achlyodes pallida

Banded Peacock, Anartia fatima

Simple Sarota, Sarota acantus

Six-spotted Eighty-eight. Callicore lyca

Six-spotted Eighty-eight. Callicore lyca

Seven lifers in one shot.

Teleus Longtail, Urbanus teleus

Togarna Hairstreal, Arawacus togarna

Two-barred Flasher, Astraptes fulgerator

Variable Crescent, Eresia ithomioides alsina

Violet tipped Saliana, Saliana saladin??

White dotted Crescent, Castilia ofella

The fruit on the bird tables proved just as popular with the butterflies.

Cytheria Sister, Adelpha cytherea

Common Morpho, Morpho helenor peleides

Work in progress - how come they look so different when you get home. Unlike Europe, there is no concise "Collins Guide to Panama's Butterflies". Careful sifting through Jeffery Glassbergs Butterflies of Mexico and Central America helps, as does the Butterflies of America website. Previous reports and the Canopy website are other sources of information. Not easy as the checklist for the Canopy Lodge and Tower comprises some 970 species.