
Tinalandia Butterfly Report
Compiled from identifications made following 2 trips to Tinalandia:
- 1 day in February 1998
- 4 consecutive days in February 2002
All identifications by Adrian Hoskins
(over 15 years experience in neotropical butterfly study)
References:
- d'Arbrera - Butterflies of the World, Neotropical, Riodinidae
- d'Arbrera - Concise Atlas of Butterflies of the World
- d'Arbrera - Butterflies of South America
- de Vries - Butterflies of Costa Rica
- Smart - Encyclopedia of the Butterfly World
- Lewis - Butterflies of the World (to identify Hesperiids only)
- Bauer & Frankenbach - Ithomiinae
- Scott - Butterflies of North America
- Golf course and surrounding pastures / meadows
- Trails through primary and secondary forest
Methods:
- Virtually all species identified from photographs.
- A few of the larger Nymphalids identified in situ.
- No insects were captured for identification on these occasions.
- No lures or odiferous baits were used on these occasions.
Qualifying notes:
This report does not purport to represent a complete list of butterflies
occuring at Tinalandia, due to limitations on time, inaccessibility
of many sections, often unsuitable weather conditions, and limited
reference sources. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy
of identifications. I would estimate
that this list represents approximately one third of the total number
of butterfly species occuring at Tinalandia. The families Ithomiidae,
Hesperiidae, Riodinidae and Lycaenidae being particularly under-recorded
at this moment. This report is intended to be used as a supplement
to the Perlman report, and contains a significant number of newly
identified species, particularly amongst the Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae
and Riodinidae, none of which were surveyed by the Perlmans.
The use of the prefix "nr" before a species name indicates that whilst the genus has been fully identified, the actual species has not, and the named species in such cases is an indication of the nearest visual likeness found in the references listed. The identification of Papilio thoas / cresphontes cannot be established from photographs, but requires the specimen to be killed and the genitalia dissected for examination. All other identifications are believed to be accurate.
ACRAEDAE FAMILY | DANAIDAE
FAMILY | HELICONIIDAE FAMILY
|
HESPERIIDAE FAMILY ITHOMIIDAE FAMILY |
LYCAENIDAE FAMILY |
NYMPHALIDAE FAMILY |
PAPILIONIDAE FAMILY |
PIERIDAE FAMILY |
RIODINIDAE FAMILY |
SATYRIDAE FAMILY
The discovery of the very rare Euptychia gulnare is an indication that despite the loss of a very considerable area of primary habitat, sufficient remains to enable such species to survive. Most of the remaining species are relatively common and widespread in the western Andes.
A considerable area of the Tinalandia estate has already been severely degraded due to alternative land usage. It is essential that the remaining relict primary forest is preserved. The degraded areas could be vastly improved for the benefit of butterflies and other wildlife by allowing forest to regenerate, and by increasing the percentage of flowery meadow in the golf course area. The construction of a carefully managed butterfly farm would attract additional funding to reduce the need to sell off more outlying land. It would also attract more interest in Tinalandia as a butterfly reserve, and as such attract funding and forest management assistance from various foundations.
Adrian Hoskins
March 2002
Contact info:
Adrian Hoskins
10 St Johns Road
Bedhampton, Havant, Hants
PO9 3TS
United Kingdom
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Hacienda Tinalandia:
tele/fax: (593-2) 2449-028
cells: 099467741 / 099494727
Urbanizacion El Bosque 2da. Etapa Av. del Parque
Calle 3era. Lote 98 #43-78
Quito, Ecuador