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Sunday, February 07, 2010

Satyr Butterflies from Belize

Folks,
Butterflying in a new part of the world has its challenges. My camera and lens both were not the best companions. The 20D camera is getting old and fussy. My 180mm macro lens needs repair, it now close focuses to 24inches not the 10 inches it used to do, a real bummer when shooting butterflies.

Here is a start of the butterflies we saw the satyr family. In all we had 8 species of satyrs in Belize! The most common butterfly seen one was our Carolina Satyr seen right here in our NC backyard, we see 6 species in our backyard so seeing 8 species in Belize at an off time of year is still pretty good.

White Satyr, Pareuptychia ocirrhoe saw this at three locations. When it flies you see mostly white.
This Westwood's Satyr, Euptychia westwoodi looks a lot like the White Satyr with subtitle differences. I only saw one of these and it was gone before Roger caught up to me. I also saw and photographed a Confused Satyr, the photo of it taking off allowed an ID, but not worth posting here.
This White-banded Satyr, Pareuptychia ocirrhoe was the only one of these we saw.


This Blue-gray Satyr, Magneuptychia libye was not in our book "Butterflies of Mexico and Central America" I got the ID from www.mariposasmexicanas.com This was the only one seen and it would not come out from under a palm bush for a better photo.
Above and below is the Plain Satyr, Cissia pompilia we saw it many places.
Carolina Satyr, Hermeuptychia sosybius the most common butterfly seen in Belize. Some websites gave this one a different name altogether. We see this butterfly in my backyard and is the only satyr of this type that nectars flowers, we saw it on many flowers as well in Belize.
Above and below the Moon Satyr, Pierella luna this was huge for a satyr at about 2 1/2 inches tall, the others shown above are mostly around an inch or less. These photos were taken from about 6 foot away and it left town before I could get close. It was my big mystery butterfly and the angle I took in these photos do not show the unusual shape very well.
OK, you suffered through the satyrs we saw. I just enjoy this family mainly because they bounce as they fly and they are out in the shady forest even on days when it is not sunny.

Below is not a satyr
Little Banner, Nica flavilla we found it along the trail at Blue Hole. Took lots of photos and we wanted to see it fly. Roger touched it with his finger and it just moved away, tried over and over and it just still moved away. We left it on the leaf, never ever had a butterfly do that.

17 comments:

  1. Lovely photos. At least the Little Banner was a cooperative subject, and a beautiful color too.

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  2. I love seeing different birds, butterflies and other insects when visiting other parts of the world. Your pictures are beautiful, despite camera problems.

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  3. Great photos Randy... I love the blue eye on your Carolina Satyr... the Moon Satyr is beautiful and it does look so big! Little Banner might have been fresh out of a chrysalis? Beautiful colors and markings... that bit of blue! Lovely post!!

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  4. Beautiful butterflies... they have such bristly faces and velvety wings.

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  5. If you hadn't apologized, most of us wouldn't have discerned the difference.

    Thank you for sharing a part of your trip. I look forward to warmer weather and the return of local butterflies.

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  6. Randy, I think you are the butterfly whisperer. I never get a butterfly to 'pose' for me like you do. Very nice photos, regardless of macro lens issues.

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  7. These are wonderful shots of the butterflies!

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  8. I'm inclined to agree with the "butterfly whisperer" comment above! :-)

    I'm sure the only Satyr we see in Iowa is the Wood Satyr. But then, the Wood Nymph is very common. And the Pearly Eye. (I'm looking in my book right now... and I must admit, if I see any of them - I probably call all of them a Wood Nymph! ha?) Guess I'd better be taking more photos - and brushing up!:-)

    Did you see my comment about receiving your cd? I'm so very excited! :-) Thanks again.

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  9. PS - I don't mean to clutter your comment-box, but I'm thanking you in tomorrow's post. :-)

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  10. Beautiful. Gorgeous images :o)

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  11. Randy, it takes a lot of patience and time to be able to tell all of these apart. To the casual observer (me!) they look so similar I'm not sure I'd notice the difference. Again, fantastic photos with accompanying descriptions. You have an amazing eye;-)

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  12. Anonymous2:30 PM

    Hi Randy~~ Gorgeous photos as usual. Thank you for the butterfly tutorial. It arrived in excellent condition. I plan to make note of it on my blog. All kudos to you!

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  13. Those are amazing photos!! Beautiful close-ups.

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  14. Wow, if the satyrs are that tough, I hate to think what you went through for the skippers.

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  15. I just love looking at your butterfly photos! And those bird shots! geez. I REALLY need a vacation in Belize.

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  16. Randy, Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I love these beauties...the small butterflies are so hard to capture, too! We have family friends who moved to Belize 20+ yrs ago and built a delightful inn...They have since sold it to Frances Ford Coppola who developed it so wonderfully. gail

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