On these pages are 90+ species of neotropical butterflies of Northern Peru grouped by subfamily and family. Identification references used include Bernard D'Abrera's Butterflies of the Neotropical Region series, DeVries' Butterflies of Costa Rica series, and Feltwell's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Butterflies. Big thank yous go to Andrew Neild (author of The Butterflies of Venezuela), who helped with many identifications, Zsolt Bálint (Hungarian Natural History Museum) for identifying the Lycaenids, Stéphane Attal (Perisama sp.), and Tomasz Pyrcz (satyrines, pieridae). Thanks also to Fred Nijhout and Ian Mann for their suggestions. If you know the species of any of these or if you spot any errors, please email me at jspippen@duke.edu All photos were taken with a Nikon CoolPix 4500. Enjoy!
Several butterflies in this group are named for the number resembling the pattern in the hindwing.
El Paraiso, ca. 400m 26 Sep 2003
Perisama canoma lamasi
Abra patricia, ca. 2000m 29 Sep 2003
same individual as above
Perisama philinus descimoni
Abra patricia, ca. 2000m 29 Sep 2003
Dynamine setabis
Abra patricia, ca. 2000m 29 Sep 2003
Adelpha cytherea (closely related to North American sisters & admirals)
El Paraiso ca. 400m elevation. 27 Sep 2003.
Hypanartia lethe Abra Patricia, ca. 1900m 30 Sep 2003
same individual
Hypanartia cinderella This is a recently described species, very similar to H. kefersteini, which is what I originally thought this was. (Thanks Andrew Nield!) Sitting on my camera case! Abra Patricia, ca. 1800m 1 Oct 2003
same individual
Hypanartia lindigii Sitting on someone's (Derb's or Dan's) pantleg! La Montañita, ca. 3200m 7 Oct 2003
same individual
Rusty-tipped PageSiproeta epaphus
Abra Patricia, ca. 2000m 29 Sep 2003
Brazilian Lady (Vanessa braziliensis) Abra Patricia, ca. 1500m 1 Oct 2003
same individual
Junonia vestina (One of the Buckeyes)
Santa Eulalia Valley around 3000m elevation. 19 Sep 2003.
Tropical Buckeye (Junonia evarete evarete) Between Abra Patricia and Afluente, ca. 1500m 30 Sep 2003
same individual
White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)
This species ranges from the U.S. all the way down to Argentia. I've seen it in both Florida and Texas!
Balsas, ca. 950m 3 Oct 2003
Scarlet Peacock (Anartia amathea)
Abra Patricia, ca. 1800m 30 Sep 2003
Glaucous Cracker (Hamadryas glauconome)
Members of this group of butterflies are known as crackers for the "crackling noises" the often make during interactions with each other. They also exhibit impressive cryptic coloration, blending in with tree bark as they perch upside down on tree trunks. Quebrada el Limón, ca. 650m 23 Sep 2003
Blue Cracker (Hamadryas feronia)
This is a different species of Cracker from the other side of the Andes!
El Paraiso, ca. 400m 27 Sep 2003
Orion (Historis odius)
Nuevo Salem, ca. 400m 28 Sep 2003
Nymphalidae, subfamily Acraeinae
Probably Actinote alcione
Along the road to El Paraiso, ca. 600m 26 Sep 2003
Longwings (Nymphalidae, subfamily Heliconiinae)
Heliconius sp. (probably H. sara (or H. leucadia?))
El Paraiso, ca. 400m 27 Sep 2003
Heliconius telesiphe
Abra Patricia, ca. 1500m 1 Oct 2003
Agraulis vanillae lucina (Heliconiinae)
El Paraiso, ca. 600m 27 Sep 2003
Julia
Dryas julia julia
This species ranges North all the way to Texas and Florida in the U.S.
El Paraiso, ca. 600m 27 Sep 2003
Clearwings (Nymphalidae, subfamily Ithomiinae)
Scada ethica
Abra Patricia, ca. 1500m
Crescents, Patches, Checkerspots, etc. (Nymphalidae, subfamily Melataeinae)
Eresia eunice eunice.
At first I thought this was a Heliconianae or an Ithomiinae, but the majority of the antennae are yellow from tip down, a feature of some females in the genus Eresia in the Melataeinae.
