Butterflies & Moths

Banded Peacock Butterfly

Brown wings.

Belt’s Eyed Silk Moth

Leaf-like forewings.

Black Witch Moth

Broad dark brown wings.

Blue Morpho

Brilliant blue upper wings with broad dark margins.

Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly

Bright yellow wings.

Julia Butterfly

Long orange wings.

Lebeau Silk Moth

Large patterned wings.

Malachite Butterfly

Green panels.

Orange-barred Sulphur Butterfly

Yellow wings.

Owl Butterfly

Large brown wings.

Red Postman Butterfly

Long black wings.

White Peacock Butterfly

Pale wings.

White Witch Moth

Very broad pale wings.

Zebra Longwing Butterfly

Long narrow black wings.

Zuleika Longwing Butterfly

Long dark wings.

Nature Field Guide

Banded Peacock Butterfly

Spanish name: Mariposa pavo real bandeada
Scientific name: Anartia fatima

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the banded peacock butterfly!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Banded Peacock Butterfly

Brown wings
pale band across wings
reddish accents toward hindwings

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Belt’s Eyed Silk Moth

Spanish name: Polilla de ojos de Belt
Scientific name: Automeris belti

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the belt’s eyed silk moth!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Belt’s Eyed Silk Moth

Leaf-like forewings
large eye spots on hindwings
stout fuzzy body

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Black Witch Moth

Spanish name: Polilla bruja
Scientific name: Ascalapha odorata

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the black witch moth!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Black Witch Moth

Broad dark brown wings
fine wavy lines
small curled forewing markings

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Butterflies & Moths Forest Edge · Tropical Dry Forest

Nature Field Guide

Blue Morpho

Spanish name: Mariposa morfo azul
Scientific name: Morpho helenor

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the blue morpho!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Blue Morpho

Brilliant blue upper wings with broad dark margins
brown underside with eye spots

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly

Spanish name: Mariposa azufre
Scientific name: Phoebis marcellina

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the cloudless sulphur butterfly!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly

Bright yellow wings
lightly marked underside
fast flight

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Julia Butterfly

Spanish name: Mariposa Julia
Scientific name: Dryas iulia

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the julia butterfly!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Julia Butterfly

Long orange wings
narrow dark edging
slender body

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Lebeau Silk Moth

Spanish name: Polilla de seda Lebeau
Scientific name: Rothschildia lebeau

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the lebeau silk moth!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Lebeau Silk Moth

Large patterned wings
translucent wing windows
feathery antennae

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Malachite Butterfly

Spanish name: Mariposa malaquita
Scientific name: Siproeta stelenes

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the malachite butterfly!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Malachite Butterfly

Green panels
dark brown borders
scalloped wing edges

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Orange-barred Sulphur Butterfly

Spanish name: Mariposa azufre anaranjada
Scientific name: Phoebis philea

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the orange-barred sulphur butterfly!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Orange-barred Sulphur Butterfly

Yellow wings
orange areas
broad rounded hindwings

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Owl Butterfly

Spanish name: Mariposa búho
Scientific name: Caligo telamonius

Butterflies & Moths Cloud Forest · Forest Edge · Tropical Dry Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the owl butterfly!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Owl Butterfly

Large brown wings
rounded eye spot on underside
broad wing shape

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Red Postman Butterfly

Spanish name: Mariposa cartero roja
Scientific name: Heliconius erato

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the red postman butterfly!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Red Postman Butterfly

Long black wings
red forewing band
pale yellow hindwing stripe in common local forms

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

White Peacock Butterfly

Spanish name: Mariposa pavo real blanca
Scientific name: Anartia jatrophae

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the white peacock butterfly!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the White Peacock Butterfly

Pale wings
wavy brown lines
small dark spots and warm orange edging

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

White Witch Moth

Spanish name: Polilla bruja blanca
Scientific name: Thysania agrippina

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the white witch moth!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the White Witch Moth

Very broad pale wings
intricate dark wavy markings
flattened resting shape

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Zebra Longwing Butterfly

Spanish name: Mariposa cebra
Scientific name: Heliconius charithonia complex (ACG: H. vazquezae)

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the zebra longwing butterfly!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Zebra Longwing Butterfly

Long narrow black wings
pale yellow stripes
slow deliberate flight

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Zuleika Longwing Butterfly

Spanish name: Mariposa Zuleika
Scientific name: Heliconius zuleika

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the zuleika longwing butterfly!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Zuleika Longwing Butterfly

Long dark wings
yellow forewing patches
orange basal hindwing accents

Habitat & range

Forest paths, edges and nearby vegetation in Guanacaste. Local habitat and abundance vary.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.