#butterflies of Central America

[herpsandbirds]

Godman's Sarota Metalmark (Sarota myrtea), family Riodinidae, Costa Rica

photograph by José Alberto Cubero Guevara

[maximili]

magical nature

[crevicedwelling]

this little butterfly is Sarota acantus, a fingernail-sized work of art found in Central and South America. you can tell this one is a female since she’s walking on all six legs—male metalmarks have a greatly reduced first pair!

[rondaincorporated]

Hummingbird Species, Part 111

Today’s bird is the butterfly coquette, Lophornis verreauxii. The Butterfly Coquette Hummingbird, scientifically known as Lophornis verreauxii, is a captivating species of hummingbird found in the tropical regions of South America. With its stunning appearance and unique behavioral traits, this diminutive bird has long fascinated both researchers and birdwatchers alike. Although it may be small…

[just-a-ghost00]

A glimpse at your FS

Group 1

Channeled songs : Youtiful - Stray Kids, Mon Amour - GEMINI, Life goes on - AGUSTD Cards : 8 of pentacles, 2 of wands, Temperance, The Wildling, The Outlaw, Love

Lives at a distance from you, cultural differences, likes to travel for fun.

Apogender (doesn't relate to the notion of gender and has no defined gender, doesn't care about what gender people attribute to them) / genderfluid looks / unisex clothing.

Successful at their work place, feels like they can't be themselves at work.

Closed heart chakra, isn't ready to open up to other people.

Longs for deep connections, very sociable but always feels lonely, only has a small number of "friends". Has a very unconventional view of relationships and love or feels like they can't find their match romantically. Feels like an outcast.

Likes to go on long walks, enjoys spending time alone, tends to keep people at arms length.

Chris / Chan from Stray Kids vibes.

Possible meaningful locations : East Asia / Central Asia / Europe / North Africa / Latin America

Developped 5D connection, astral travelling, connecting through dreams or receiving messages from them at night because of time difference.

Very patient in relationships, longs for someone who can understand them but also call them out when needed.

Looks for fun and surprising connections in which they can feel safe and free to be themselves.

They want someone that will be loyal and trustworthy but will keep them on their toes.

Extras : Sagittarius, Gemini, numbers 2/5/8/14, snakes, masks, knives, crosses, blades, cactus, steampunk, boots

💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️

Group 2

Channeled songs : Connected - Bangchan, Comflex - Stray Kids, Lose my breath SKZ version Cards : 2 of pentacles rx, The Star, King of pentacles, The Alchemist, The Seeker, The Explorer

Possible careers / hobbies : arts / influencers / modeling

Well established, possibly famous or at least people in their field look up to them. High status, very experienced.

High level manifestor, high achiever in all areas of life except for love. They have a lot of knowledge and a lot of skills but when it comes to love they're a noob.

Game of Thrones references, especially Jon Snow vibes ("You know nothing Jon Snow").

You are already aware of who they are and they are aware of your existence but they're either ignoring the signs or downright ignoring you. They're not ready and/or they're scared of the connection.

You both have been manifesting this connection. While you are expectant and wanting to move forward with them, they are freaking out because they were not expecting you so soon.

Their energy is all over the place. They're engaged in a lot of projects, events, activities. They don't have time in their schedule to have a love life on top of that.

You throw them off their balance because you're everything they could ever wish for and they were not expecting to be able to have their wish granted, because whether they want to admit it or not this person has been manifesting you and praying for you.

They have a flirty, social butterfly type of energy. They have been indulging in connections, looking out for their person only to find out that they weren't the one. They've done nothing but flirting. They noticed very quickly that this wasn't gonna work so they quickly gave up. They were a busy bee, flying from flower to flower, never really finding their kind of nectar.

They are very spiritual, though they are constantly working on their material life. They receive a lot of downloads from their guides.

A part of them doubts the connection. They feel like it's too good to be true. Also they're too conscious of the differences between you. They're scared of the public opinion.

Extras : letters C/S/T, numbers 2/8/17, wolves, stars, crows, ravens, hands, bracelets and rings, compass, teeth, cranes, Aquarius, difference of status, overseas

💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️💙✨️

Group 3

Channeled songs : Comflex - Stray Kids, Comfortable - H.E.R, Mon Amour - GEMINI Cards : Underworld rx, destruction rx, Speak truth, knight of cups, queen of swords, The Star

Recently got out of a dark night of the soul / depression.

Is learning to set boundaries and express their truth without fear of being rejected.

Very giving and fair person that only wishes to connect with and love people but life has given them a hard time. They find it hard to believe that people can be genuinely nice to them with no ulterior motive.

They tend to hide their emotional side more nowadays because they're afraid of being taken advantage of. They might be neurodivergent or struggle with ASD.

They are very feminine in their energy. They are deeply connected to their emotions to the point that it can often overwhelm them. They are deeply empathetic and sympathetic. They can sometimes feel other people's pain as if it were their own.

Highly spiritual, highly emotionally intelligent person but also very clever, witty, often sarcastic.

Huge Scorpio vibes.

Will Graham vibes.

Has a hard time being vulnerable with other people, struggles with the notions of intimacy and beauty. Yet, they're extremely beautiful inside and out.

Has a very clear and charming voice. Enjoys singing, chatting about their interests.

Possible careers / hobbies : psychic / healer / doctor / teacher / music / writing poetry / influencer / fishing / research / sharing knowledge

Lives at a distance from you, possibly near an important body of water.

Though they wish for romance, they're not really looking at potential partners and they don't put themselves out there. They're waiting for the right person to just show up out of nowhere, like some kind of white rabbit coming out of a hat.

They have the potential of being a very important public figure, maybe even being super famous but they don't believe in themselves enough at this moment to reach that potential. They're not really interested in fame but I feel it is part of their destiny. They're on their way to manifest greater success.

Alice in Wonderland vibes, only they're the Mad Hatter when people think they're the innocent and naive "little girl" chasing after rabbits. People tend to underestimate their power.

Extras : Gemini, Aquarius, letters C / S, numbers 8/17, long hair, water, owls, hands, scars, wings, crosses, cranes, horses, swords, long and flowy dresses, jewelry

[dailybutterfly]

Butterfly #85: Ghost Brimstone (Anteos clorinde)

Image credits: 1, 2, 3

This butterfly can be found in South, Central and southern North America. It has a wingspan of 70-90mm.

[vampirememory]

pick a pile | random things about your next lover

I love future spouse content but not everyone you meet is going to be your future spouse so let's focus on your next lover!

For this reading, I am using charms because they are fun to use and interpret :)! The topic of this reading is Random Things about Your Future Lover!

♢ There are five piles to choose from. Pile one is the Pantone images, pile two is the moth, pile three is the fairy, pile four is the flower pressings and pile five is the heart with swords. ♢

Pile One ♢ Pantone images

Cancer placements or Cancer season may be significant in some way.

Height difference. If this is the case, the shorter one will be somewhat more fiery and the taller one will be subdued and calm.

Enjoys dressing fancy or may have somewhat of an "extra" dressing style; always fashionable late.

Has the key to your heart, may melt a frozen-over heart <3

They may hold themselves to high standards, have a good self-concept, and love themselves. Would date themselves if it was an option.

May have a feisty pet cat, or however you want to interpret this.

Pile Two ♢ moth/butterfly

Possible blue eyes or you may have blue eyes.

May be a bit chubby, have some weight OR loves people with weight, depends on how you take it. They might also just be a big foodie (got a banana here also lol)

If you're into dudes & questioning if you're going to be with one (maybe you're bi) then yeah, it's a dude.

May be...very sexual. I'll leave it at that.

Built like a horse?

Very fast, high endurance, a runner or athlete. Possibly in football.

Loves the beach, might be from a hot country.

Song: Wannabe by Spice Girls

Pile Three ♢ fairy

Free spirited

May have a child or has younger siblings/cousins

May be a saggitaruis or saggitarius season is significant.

May have a lotus or flower tattoo.

Military, I see them being an engineer or working on planes or something, not necessarily in combat.

May be in the marines, honestly.

Has expensive taste, enjoys the finer things in life.

Would love to take you on a cruise? They really want to go on a cruise. They really need a break.

May dress nicely for work.

May have their pilots license.

Pile Four ♢ pressed flowers with bandaids

Might be from Central or South America, or from the Caribbean.

Might play guitar.

Loves animals.

May have a...pegasas on the side of their minivan? (This is really specific for someone)

Absolutely smitten for you.

May have been born with a hole in their heart or has a heart defect.

Really wants to move to a cold place. They may live somewhere hot now and they really hate it.

Doesn't stop at anything, lives life to the fullest.

Might enjoy gardening or helps with a community garden.

Pile Five ♢ heart with swords

Might be a shopaholic or overconsumes things, I felt like pulling more and more charms to no end.

You both may have a child together if possible, they may have lost a child or young sibling.

Divine orchestration, this relationship is divinely protected.

Capricorn, Scorpio, or Cancer placements or season is significant.

Has a cat they absolutely adore.

Pink and green, your relationship may be like Cosmo's and Wanda's from Fairly Odd Parents

You guys are a cute, perfect match and may be meant to last a long time. Possibly the person you will marry.

You may know this person or they may know you ("The gears are turning!")

You may enjoy bike riding together.

Thank you so much for reading! Feel free to check out my masterpost with more readings, or you can support me by purchasing a reading by clicking here. Thanks for the support, let me know which pile you picked and if it resonated or not :)!

[qqueenofhades]

-Quickly skitters into the inbox, with a boom box and an increasingly bass boosted version-

🎶I PUT MY HANDS UP THEY’RE PLAYING MY SONG THE BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY-🎶

- Party In The USA anon, on the recent glorious news

Look. LOOK. I know we've had technically bigger fish, but the Georgia case is a Big Fucking Deal. Because:

It is a MAJOR indictment both in terms of scope and seriousness of charges. Not just Trump, but *eighteen* of his allies and cronies got charged with RICO (anti-racketeering, often used against mob bosses) felonies, including Rudy Giuliani (I repeat, HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA), Jeff Clark, Mark Meadows, and other high-profile Trumpworld enablers

No Lindsey Graham (at least yet) but I guess we can't have everything

It encompasses both in Georgia and other states where Trump illegally tried to alter election results (Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania), as those activities related to a conspiracy centered on Georgia/Fulton County

This is the big whopper: TRUMP CANNOT CANCEL THIS INVESTIGATION EVEN IF HE GETS RE-ELECTED. He can shut down the federal Special Counsel investigations run through the DoJ, but this? Bupkis. And Georgia governor Brian Kemp, another of the Republicans who dutifully continues to defend Trump even as Trump slanders him up and down, CAN'T PARDON HIM.

That drives the Republicans NUTS. So nuts that they were, you guessed it, already on Faux News whining about how they should make Georgia change that law.

Boo-fucking-hoo, you absolute fucking wankers.

Also: we need to remember that Trump rose to political prominence by being wildly racist and xenophobic about America's first Black president. He has coddled and exalted white supremacists and white supremacist rhetoric at every turn, it has been the central defining feature of his campaign, and his election subversion efforts were chiefly aimed at canceling the votes of heavily Black cities (Atlanta, Philly, Detroit, etc.)

Trump also won in 2016 thanks to the Electoral College, itself designed as an element of structural racism, by defeating probably the most qualified and beyond any doubt most historic candidate there has ever been, after it was revealed that he was a serial sexual assaulter and after he screamed for months about LOCK HER UP (every Republican accusation is a confession, etc)

All that said, with Trump's vile, derogatory bile spewed at everyone, but especially a) Black people, b) women, and c) powerful Black women, it is a Big Fucking Deal that a powerful Black woman, aka his worst nightmare, pulled this trigger on him.

Don't get me wrong. I deeply appreciate me some Jack Smith. But he is also a white male special counsel appointed by the Department of Justice, and who used to work for the Hague prosecuting war crimes (true story). It's in his brief to do this.

Fani Willis is a county district attorney AND a Black woman, as Trump's nonstop shitgibbering on Truth Social just can't help himself from pointing out. This kind of sprawling, country-wide investigation against a wildly corrupt ex-president and his cohort of equally corrupt cronies is not something she is, in the normal course of things, ever expected to do, but she did it.

NINETEEN DEFENDANTS, Y'ALL. Including Trump. On 41 different charges. That's a hell of an indictment, and she knows it puts a target on her back, while (as noted) she doesn't have the resources and protections of the federal government/DOJ to do it.

Let's hear it for Fani Willis (and Judge Chutkan, who informed Trump the other day the more he runs his mouth, the faster she will proceed to trial) y'all.

Black Women Get Shit Done.

[speakingofnature]

Little Yellow

Unambiguous in name, the Little Yellow Butterfly has been richly successful throughout the eastern states and Central America despite its diminutive size.

[mindblowingscience]

Akito Kawahara remembers being eight years old when he went on a special tour of the insect collection at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. He marveled at the vast array of pinned bugs before stopping in front of a large picture of the butterfly family tree.

A number of spots on that tree, he saw, were curiously blank.

"Just looking at it, realizing that scientists at these museums still don't know these basic things — I'll never forget that day," Kawahara says.

That moment sparked a lifelong passion in Kawahara to fill in those blanks and determine where these charismatic insects originated. Now, he's gotten a little closer to an answer. His latest research shows that butterflies probably first flapped their wings in present-day western North America or Central America.

"We were surprised," says Kawahara, now the curator of butterflies and moths at the University of Florida. Before this, "people had thought that butterflies originated somewhere in Asia."

Continue Reading

[herpsandbirds]

Emerald Aguna (Aguna claxon), family Hesperiidae, Honduras

photograph by Robert Gallardo

[letteredlettered]

We’d all like the rest of your butterfly facts, please.

I have SO MANY; I'm not even sure how to share them all.

Butterflies and moths are not taxonomic or cladistic groups; they're colloquial terms to refer to lepidoptera (the taxonomic order butterflies and moths belong to) that have different characteristics and behaviors. That said:

Moths tend to be nocturnal

Moths tend to have fuzzy bodies, butterflies are sleek

Moths tend to have fuzzy antennae, butterflies just have straight plain ones

The additional fuzz on months allows them to sense what's around them, which is helpful because they're not seeing as much because they're nocturnal

Moths tend to build chrysalises with silk but also leaves and mud, etc. These are known as cocoons. Butterflies only use silk and don't have cocoons (either are known as chrysalis)

The Atlas Moth has the biggest wingspan of any lepidoptera

The Atlas Moth usually emerges from its cocoon without a mouth. It can only breed and die

The Atlas Moth caterpillar lives for months. It's generally in the cocoon for months! But it only lives as an adult moth for a few days (because it can't even eat!)

Inside their chrysalises, caterpillars don't just grow wings and longer legs. They liquify completely and reform.

Caterpillars have six legs called "true legs" that mirror the six legs butterflies have. Then they have additional nubs farther down their bodies that help them move around.

Butterflies taste with their feet. If they land on you, they're tasting you!

Butterflies can only eat liquid. They primarily eat nectar and juice from fruit. Rotten fruit is easier for them because rotten fruit is juicy.

The butterfly mouth is called a proboscis. It curls up when not in use and uncurls when the butterfly eats. It's like a straw.

The word "proboscis" can sometimes refer (as a joke!) to nose, but butterflies can't smell with their proboscis. They smell with their antennae!

Like many insects, butterflies have faceted eyes. But unlike the movies, they probably don't see the same image over and over, because their vision isn't refined enough for that. What faceted eyes allow them to see are big patches of color, which is useful considering they eat fruit and flowers. If you want a butterfly to land on you, wear something colorful.

Butterflies don't have lungs. Like most insects, they breathe through holes in their bodies called spiracles.

Incidentally, this is why insects are so small. If they were giant, these holes would have to be bigger or there would have to be many more of them, and that would mean their exoskeleton was not stable!

Oh, yeah, butterflies do not have bones. Like all insects, they have an exoskeleton.

Butterflies do not have blood. Like all insects, they had a fluid that moves most nutrients through their bodies. It's called hemalymph. It carries hormones, nutrients, and waste. It's blue!

Male butterflies tend to be smaller and more colorful than female butterflies. This is the same style of sexual dimorphism present in most insects. Also in birds!

Male monarch butterflies have distinctive dark spots on the lower wings that female monarch butterflies don't have. The spots are scent glands that help them attract mates.

Most butterflies migrate. Like birds.

Monarch butterflies in North America east of the Rocky Mountains have one of the most impressive migration patterns of any animal. They may travel up to 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico, but what is most spectacular about it is that almost all of them end up in just a few spots relatively close together on some mountain peaks in Central Mexico. The monarchs are so dense that you can't see the trees.

Butterflies are great for studying evolutionary adaptations in coloration and appearance because they are so striking. Camouflage is the adaptation present when an animal blends in with its surroundings. Mimicry is the adaptation that makes an animal look like a different animal.

The owl butterfly is a great example of mimicry because it has two big owl eyes on its wings. The Atlas moth wing tips look like snake heads.

"Batesian mimicry" is named after Henry Walter Bates, who studied mimicry in butterflies. Batesian mimicry means that one species who is harmless looks like another species that is not harmless. Mullerian mimicry is when several species that are harmful all look like each other, so the warning to predators is stronger. Butterflies have great examples of both types of mimicry.

Monarch butterflies and viceroy butterflies were once thought to exhibit Batesian mimicry, because it was thought that vicroys weren't toxic, but it turns out both butterflies are poisonous and so the species have evolved to mimic each other in an example of Mullerian mimicry.

Monarch butterflies are poisonous because the milkweed caterpillars eat is poisonous

The best way to attract butterflies is to grow native plants.

[cypherdecypher]

Animal of the Day!

Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis)

(Photo by Renee Grayson)

Conservation Status- Unlisted

Habitat- Southwestern United States; Central America

Size (Weight/Length)- 2 cm

Diet- Nectar; Tree sap

Cool Facts- The western pygmy blue is the smallest butterfly in North America. With a wingspan of 20 millimeters, it can be hard to get from flower to flower. To bypass their small size, males create territories they protect fiercely from other western pygmy blues. Only females are welcomed to eat nectar on the off chance they are willing to mate with the male. These butterflies eat the nectar of hundreds of different species of flowers simply due to their generalist feeding habit and large range. As a result, the western pygmy blue is an essential pollinator for wildflowers and cactus.

Rating- 12/10 (It’s tough to be a bug.)

[electricpurrs]

some fucked up butterflies

Diaethria anna, or the Anna's Eighty Eight. guess why shes called that. she apparently can be found in texas so look out

Cymothoe sangaris, or the Blood-red glider. shes terrifyingly pretty. unfortunately only lives in central africa

Heliconius charithonia or the Zebra Longwing. shes just stripey. apparently she can be found on central and south america, texas and california, and some other american states when they migrate in warmer months, yay! they are social butterflies and fly around and sleep together at night in groups of up to 60 butterflies!

their caterpillars are scary because they have spikes to protect them from predators, but are harmless for humans to touch. due to eating toxic plants, both the caterpillars and adult butterflies are poisonous to eat

Aglais io, or the European Peacock. scariest eye pattern wings ive seen in a while.

okay i ran out of butterflies 👍

[birdstudies]

October 10, 2023 - Slaty Spinetail or Slaty Castlebuilder (Synallaxis brachyura) These spinetails are found in scrub, thickets, and undergrowth at forest edges, overgrown clearings, the edges of swamps, and gardens in southern Central America and in parts of Ecuador and Colombia to northern Peru. They feed on invertebrates including beetles, butterflies, larvae, and spiders, as well as seeds, usually foraging in pairs. Their bulky nests are made from twigs and sticks, often with thorns, soft green leaves, spiderwebs, and sometimes snake or lizard skins. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.

[dailybutterfly]

Butterfly #91: Red Rim (Biblis hyperia)

Image credits: 1, 2, 3

This butterfly can be found in lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, USA, along with Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America (up till Paraguay)