I came across this photo we took on a trip to Costa Rica several years ago and thought it might be appreciated here. I hope it is big enough for you to see the face on this beauty. This was taken at the Monteverde Butterfly Farm in Costa Rica. Sorry, I don't know what kind it is.
Here's another - my favorite.
Would you look at that! He's got a cute smiling face! Then wow!, Looking sideways at the large eye spot with the white just below it really looks like a face too! The white part, as you stare at the big eye spot, looks like a wide mouth. That should keep lizards away!
kaper, how beautiful, I think the first is an Owl Butterfly.
I think this is the second one - Greta nero http://www.cs.umb.edu/~whaber/Monte/Ithomid/Gre-ner.html
Or maybe not! There's a whole list of "clearwing" butterflies of Costa Rica. http://www.cs.umb.edu/~whaber/Monte/Ithomid/Ithomid-fram.html
This message was edited Jun 26, 2007 5:21 PM
Yes, your first one is an owl butterfly...
http://www.butterflyschool.org/photogallery/04.html
Second one appears to be the glasswing.
Kaper-
They have such cool Butterflies in other countries! Great shots! Thanks for sharing!!
Adrienne
Butterfly School! I love it. Thanks for the link VA Wild Rose.
Your welcome!
I happen to love tropical butterflies, and had researched the idea of raising glasswing cats as a learning project for my daughters. Can't bring them into the states though!
Ah well! Guess I'll have to make my dream trip to Central or South America one day!
Well, I can certainly recommend Costa Rica. They have more variety of everything - birds, butterflies, topography - in that tiny country, plus wonderful people, great food, and wonderful coffee!
Kathleen - Love your butterfly photos! The Owl Butterfly has got such beautiful markings! Love it's little face, too! Those are great! Thanks for sharing them here! :-)
Wow!!! Great photos! I frequent the Monteverde website quite often to study information on cestrums and solanums which are some of the larval hosts of the clearwing butterflies. We have had a couple of rare stray clearwings the past couple of years...so am trying to obtain plants that might attract them again. Never hurts to try :o)
~ Cat
Glad you enjoyed them. Everywhere we went in CR, they had over-ripe bananas out for the birds and butterflies. They are both very nature conscious and aware that tourists like to see things close up. Tourism is very important but not, it seemed, at the cost of their environment.
This place was fascinating, but very small and simple. The people were eager to teach and answer questions, showing us lots of insects (some I did not want to see!) and butterflies.
Here are a couple more. Not terrific photos, I'm afraid. If you look at the inside of the wings on the yellow one, you can see the color change to a soft green.
Last one.
Yes... Costa Rica was one of the places on my "wish" list, as was Peru.
I love anything tropical, especially the birds, plants, and butterflies. I had a Blue and Gold Macaw until my divorce from my first husband (he wouldn't let me have her), and I hope one day to get another.
I've always wanted to visit the area where the plants and birds I love come from....
Hope you get your wishes. We have a B&G and I can't imagine losing her.
Oohhhhh!!! Thank you for posting the photo! I almost cried when I saw it!
She's beautiful!
Forgot to say her name is Juliette, aka Julie. She's five 1/2 and we are her third home. A little unruly, but a sweet girl and learning all the time. I hope you consider adopting - there are so many abandoned birds that need good homes. We also have an Amazon (14) and a cockatiel (15). Our tropical flock. :-)
I can only imagine... I have adopted every cat I've ever owned.. from shelters, humane societies, or off the street.
I don't know if I coulddo it with a big bird though. I got Willow when she was 8 weeks old and finished hand-feeding her myself. She was so sweet, and smart, and easy to handle. She had a good vocabulary for a macaw too.
I still miss her....
What a lovely name. We got our other two birds as babies and I can honestly say there is no difference between the three now. Julie came with baggage, but our Amazon has developed a bit of her own, and we won't even talk about the 'tiel! lol He's one in a million. Just like kids, whether they come from the womb or not, they can give you heartache.
I've talked with lots of people who have taken in big birds and are very happy. Sounds like you'd be a good mom either way. :-) Hope you don't have to wait too long.
