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Trip Reports
Butterfly-watching Holidays
 
Venezuela
September 2002
a group tour organised by Geodyssey, designed and led by Andrew Neild
 
trip report by Adrian Hoskins
 

Venezuela   -   where giant spiders prey on birds... and butterflies feed on giant spiders !

Unlike their relatives from temperate zones, the butterflies of tropical Venezuela rarely take nectar from flowers, instead preferring to obtain their sustenance from tree-sap, fungal exudations and rotting fruit; or by imbibing dissolved salts from wet rocks, mammal dung, urine-soaked sand, or bird-droppings. An even stranger method of feeding was observed on this trip however, when a specimen of the incredibly beautiful Blue Doctor Rhetus periander, was seen feeding on the corpse of a giant tarantula on a track alongside the Rio Frio in the Venezuelan Andes !

Rhetus periander
 
Weather conditions at Rio Frio were quite variable, some days being very hot and brilliantly sunny, whilst other days were cool, overcast and occasionally rainy. The varied conditions encouraged a great diversity of species to put in an appearance - the cloudier days encouraging Satyrines and Brassolines, whilst the sunny days brought out Metalmarks, Nymphalids, Morphos, Swallowtails and masses of Pierids.

On one hot day, a host of fascinating and beautiful Nymphalids were attracted to mineral salts on a shaded rock-face. Here we saw the Rusty-tipped Page Siproeta epaphus, the truly beautiful green and brown Siproeta stelenes, the Stinky Leaf-wing Historis odius, the dazzling blue Doxocopa cherubina, and the beautiful red and black Callicore pitheas. A short distance away, Cracker butterflies Hamadryas februa, flitted around the trees, the males producing the unique cracking sound which helps them to differentiate between fellow males and potential mates. 

Further along the track several stunning Skippers were observed, including Jemadia gnetus, banded with metallic turquoise and silver on a black ground colour. Others included Myscelus amystis, with orange-yellow wings beautifully marked with hyaline "windows", Quadrus lugubris, Mylon cajus, and the electric-blue Astraptes alector

Tiny dazzling Metalmarks such as the metallic blue Lasaia agesilas settled momentarily on the track, and the very pretty brown and orange Crocozona coecias arcuata, which settled on low foliage, put in an occasional appearance. 

Huge blue Morphos patrolled regularly along the track. Most spectacular amongst these was the sickle-winged Morpho rhetenor, whose intense iridescent blue colour almost defies belief. 

The cloudier days encouraged some of the more active species to settle and bask. These included many beautiful Heliconius species, marked with bands of red, cream, and sometimes blue, on a velvet black ground colour. The real treat on the dull days however was to see the enormous Owl butterflies, such as Caligo idomeneus and Caligo atreus, which settled on rotting plantain fruit that Andrew had placed strategically to attract them. The Owl butterflies of course get their name from the feathery pattern and huge black avian eye-spot markings on the undersides of their wings. They have a slow flapping flight, and an attacking bird would have no difficulty in spotting where a Caligo landed. The huge false-eyes therefore probably function as decoys, diverting attack onto the wings and away from the body of the butterfly. This theory seems to be supported by my observations of Owl butterflies with large chunks pecked out of their hindwings. 

Whilst many tropical butterflies such as the fiery orange Dryas iulia are brightly marked in aposematic ( warning ) colours,  others are characterised by amazing camouflage patterns which make them almost impossible to spot when at rest. Amongst the most interesting is the Tiger-with Tails Consul fabius, banded with orange and dark brown on the upperside, but camouflaged underneath with a remarkable dead-leaf pattern. The jagged wings even have tails which simulate leaf stems ! Other examples include Hypna clytemnestra and Zaretis ellops, whose wings even have little windows that simulate the nibbled holes made in leaves by beetles.
Leaving the beautiful Rio Frio behind us we headed over mountain passes to La Azulita, an area of coffee plantations, cattle ranches, and patches of remnant cloud-forest. Cool damp weather and limited access to habitats kept butterfly sightings minimal, but we were rewarded by the sight of several attractive Acraeines, commonest of which was the stunning black and orange Altinote dicaeus. We also visited some cloudforest near Merida, where Pteronymia veia and several other Ithomiines were seen. These butterflies inhabit the darkest recesses of the forest. Many have transparent wings which render them almost invisible, but when seen in certain lighting conditions the clear membranes refract the light, producing a beautiful mother-of-pearl iridescence

Finally came a long road journey to La Gira de Betijoque, near Valera. Initially the site seemed disappointing, as the first part of the forest track went through rural land. Further along the track however things got very exciting, with sightings of the beautiful blue banded Doxocopa clothilda, and several stunning Metalmarks including the black, red and blue Ancyluris huascar, the tiny Red Devil Mesene phareus, and the curious Underleaf Eurybia lycisca, which plays "peek-a-boo", with just it's head and the false-eye on the leading edge of it's forewings protruding from beneath a leaf.

Another curiosity was the Zebra Lycid Arawacus aetolus, marked with black and white zebra stripes, and possessing antenna-like tails on the hindwings. The pattern and positioning of the markings gives the impression that the butterfly is facing left instead of right, an illusion further enhanced by the butterfly's habit of rotating on it's axis instantaneously upon landing. 

There are few areas of the world which can match Venezuela in terms of butterfly diversity, with a staggering 3000 species recorded. The Geodyssey tour allowed us to see and photograph several hundred of these, and to study their often extraordinary behaviour.

On the trip we were very fortunate to have a good-humoured and thoroughly capable tour leader - Andrew Neild, ensuring that everything ran smoothly, which it did until the penultimate day of the tour, when our adventure was brought to an abrupt end when the group was subjected to a vicious armed robbery. Most of us lost all of our camera equipment, and we were very lucky to escape alive.

Species recorded in Venezuela in September 2002
All species listed below, with the exception of the Hesperiidae, were identified in the field by Andrew Neild, supported by photographs taken by Adrian Hoskins, Tony Hoare and Peter Bruce-Jones. Reference sources consulted include the d'Abrera neotropical volumes, Neild's Butterflies of Venezuela, museum specimens, and the private collection of Andrew Neild. The Hesperiidae were identified by Adrian Hoskins and should be regarded as tentative determinations, as there are no adequate resources available to the public for their identification. Nomenclature follows Neild, and has NOT been updated to follow the more recent revision by Lamas.

Site

Family

sub-family

Genus

species

sub-species

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Hesperiinae

Anatrytone

barbara

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Hesperiinae

Anthoptus

epictetus

epictetus

La Gira

Hesperiidae

Hesperiinae

Pyrrhopygopsis

socrates

orasus

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Hesperiinae

Remella

remus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Hesperiinae

Remella

remus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Hesperiinae

Saliana

fusta

fusta

Caracas

Hesperiidae

Hesperiinae

Saliana

placens

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Hesperiinae

Saliana

placens

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Hesperiinae

Vettius

coryna

catargyra

La Chorerra

Hesperiidae

Heteropterinae

Dalla

cypselus

cyspelus

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Heteropterinae

Dalla

cypselus

cyspelus

La Chorerra

Hesperiidae

Heteropterinae

Dalla

dimidiatus

dimidiatus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Achlyodes

busirus

heros

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Achlyodes

mithridates

thraso

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Antigonus

erosus

La Chorerra

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Antigonus

nearchus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Antigonus

nearchus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Astraptes

alector

hopfferi

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Autochton

neis

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Autochton

neis

La Gira

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Bolla

cupreiceps

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Bolla

cupreiceps

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Calaenorrhinus

eligius

eligius

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Camptopleura

theramenes

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Codatractus

alcaeus

apulia

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Cycloglypha

thrasibulus

thrasibulus

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Epargyreus

exadeus

exadeus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Gorgopas

chlorocephala

chlorocephala

La Chorerra

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Helias

phalaenoides

phalaenoides

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Helias

phalaenoides

phalaenoides

La Chorerra

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Heliopetes

petrus

La Gira

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Heliopetes

petrus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Heliopetes

petrus

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Mylon

cajus

cajus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Mylon

lassia

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Nisoniades

ephora

ephora

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Polyctor

polyctor

dagua

Caracas

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Pyrgus

oileus

oileus

La Gira

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Pyrgus

oileus

oileus

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Pyrgus

oileus

oileus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Pyrgus

oileus

oileus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Quadrus

cerialis

La Gira

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Quadrus

lugubris

ophia

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Quadrus

lugubris

ophia

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Sostrata

bifasciata

adamas

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Spathilepia

clonius

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Spioniades

artemides

artemides

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Spioniades

artemides

artemides

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Staphylus

mazans

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Staphylus

mazans

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Staphylus

musculus

La Chorerra

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Theagenes

albiplaga

albiplaga

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Theagenes

albiplaga

albiplaga

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

chalco

La Chorerra

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

dorantes

dorantes

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

dorantes

dorantes

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

doryssus

doryssus

La Chorerra

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

proteus

proteus

La Gira

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

proteus

proteus

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

proteus

proteus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

proteus

proteus

Caracas

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

simplicius

La Gira

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

simplicius

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

simplicius

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Urbanus

simplicius

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrginae

Xenophanes

tryxus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrrhopyginae

Jemadia

gnetus

Rio Frio

Hesperiidae

Pyrrhopyginae

Myscelus

amystis

amystis

La Gira

Hesperiidae

Pyrrhopyginae

Passova

passova

styx

La Revancha

Hesperiidae

Pyrrhopyginae

Pyrrhopyge

creona

La Gira

Hesperiidae

Pyrrhopyginae

Pyrrhopyge

decipiens

La Gira

Lycaenidae

Theclinae

Arawacus

aetolus

aetolus

Rio Frio

Lycaenidae

Theclinae

Arawacus

aetolus

aetolus

La Gira

Lycaenidae

Theclinae

Arawacus

togarna

La Gira

Lycaenidae

Theclinae

Ministrymon

una

La Gira

Lycaenidae

Theclinae

Panthiades

phaleros

Rio Frio

Lycaenidae

Theclinae

Pseudolycaena

marsyas

Rio Frio

Lycaenidae

Theclinae

Symbiopsis

rickmani

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Apaturinae

Doxocopa

cherubina

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Apaturinae

Doxocopa

clothilda

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Apaturinae

Doxocopa

cyane

cyane

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Apaturinae

Doxocopa

laurentia

chlorotaenia

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Apaturinae

Doxocopa

pavon

pavon

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Apaturinae

Doxocopa

zunilda

felderi

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Callicore

astarte

staudingeri

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Callicore

pitheas

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Callicore

pitheas

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Catonephele

acontius

acontius

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Catonephele

chromis

chromis

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Catonephele

numilia

numilia

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Catonephele

numilia

numilia

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Catonephele

nyctimus

La Chorerra

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Cybdelis

mnasylus

mnasylus

La Chorerra

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Diaethria

clymena

marchalii

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Diaethria

clymena

marchalii

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Diaethria

clymena

marchalii

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Diaethria

gabaza

gabazina

La Chorerra

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Diaethria

neglecta

merida

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Diaethria

neglecta

merida

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Dynamine

agacles

core

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Dynamine

artemisia

ackeryi

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Dynamine

colombiana

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Dynamine

colombiana

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Dynamine

paulina

paulina

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Dynamine

postverta

postverta

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Dynamine

postverta

postverta

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Dynamine

tithia

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Ectima

thecla

thecla

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Eunica

alcmena

flora

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Eunica

alcmena

flora

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Eunica

caelina

olympias

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Eunica

caralis

caralis

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Haematera

pyrame

thysbe

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Haematera

pyrame

thysbe

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Hamadryas

amphinome

amphinome

Caracas

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Hamadryas

februa

februa

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Hamadryas

februa

februa

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Hamadryas

februa

februa

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Hamadryas

laodamia

laodamia

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Hamadryas

laodamia

laodamia

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Marpesia

berania

berania

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Marpesia

chiron

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Marpesia

petreus

petreus

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Marpesia

petreus

petreus

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Marpesia

zerynthia

dentigera

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Mestra

dorcas

hersilia

Caracas

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Nica

flavilla

canthara

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Nica

flavilla

canthara

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Nica

flavilla

canthara

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Orophila

cardases

campaspe

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Perisama

bomplandii

parabomplandii

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Perisama

dorbignyi

dorbignyi

La Chorerra

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Perisama

goeringi

La Chorerra

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Perisama

oppelii

angustifasciata

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Perisama

oppelii

angustifasciata

La Chorerra

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Perisama

patara

patara

La Chorerra

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Perisama

yeba

emma

La Chorerra

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Pyrrhogyra

edocla

edocla

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Pyrrhogyra

edocla

edocla

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Pyrrhogyra

neaerea

kheili

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Sea

sophronia

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Biblidinae

Temenis

laothoe

colombiana

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Agrias

claudina

sardanapalus

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Archaeoprepona

amphimachus

amphimachus

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Archaeoprepona

amphimachus

amphimachus

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Archaeoprepona

demophon

demophon

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Archaeoprepona

demophoon

andicola

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Archaeoprepona

meander

megabates

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Consul

fabius

bogotanus

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Consul

fabius

bogotanus

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Consul

panariste

ludmilla

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Fountainea

halice

chrysophana

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Fountainea

ryphea

ryphea

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Fountainea

ryphea

ryphea

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Hypna

clytemnestra

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Memphis

acidalia

acidalia

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Memphis

perenna

austrina

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Memphis

xenocles

xenocles

La Chorerra

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Noreppa

chromus

priene

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Prepona

laertes

demodice

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Siderone

galanthis

thebais

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Zaretis

ellops

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Charaxinae

Zaretis

itys

itys

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Danainae

Danaus

eresimus

estevana

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Danainae

Danaus

plexippus

plexippus

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Danainae

Danaus

plexippus

plexippus

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Danainae

Lycorea

halia

atergatis

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Danainae

Lycorea

halia

atergatis

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Danainae

Lycorea

ilione

lamirus

La Azulita

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Abananote

hylonome

basilia

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Abananote

hylonome

basilia

La Azulita

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Actinote

anteas

anteas

La Chorerra

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Actinote

anteas

anteas

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Actinote

anteas

anteas

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Actinote

anteas

anteas

Monte Zerpa

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Actinote

anteas

anteas

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Actinote

anteas

anteas

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Actinote

parapheles

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Actinote

pellenea

hahneli

La Azulita

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Altinote

callianthe

La Azulita

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Altinote

dicaeus

dicaeus

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Altinote

dicaeus

dicaeus

La Revancha

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Altinote

stratonice

La Azulita

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Altinote

trinacria

naura

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Dione

juno

juno

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Dione

juno

juno

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Dryas

iulia

alcionea

Rio Frio

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Dryas

iulia

alcionea

La Gira

Nymphalidae

Heliconiinae

Eueides

aliphera

gracilis

Rio Frio