www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

It's that bird photographer again! A recent trip to Cuba brought some lovely bird pictures (at dragnil.co.uk) and some butterflies and dragonflies. I wonder if I might ask for more help with identifying the attached pictures? I'm grateful for help given in the past and hope that I'm not killing golden geese or trying anyone's patience.
Thanks again and best wishes, David

Hi David,

Zebra Longwing or Zebra Heliconian (Heliconius charithonia) for number 3.

Kind regards. Mark

To start your search for the others:

4 is very similar to Urbanus proteus
2 is closely related to Anartia jatrophae
1 is Marpesia petreus or a close cousin.

If you put these into Google Images you will be close in each case! I don't have a book of Cuban butterflies.

Guy

No 2: The White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anartia_jatropha

I think no 1 is the Antillean Daggerwing (Marpesia eleuchea eleuchea) http://butterfliesofamerica.com/marpesi ... cimens.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marpesia_eleuchea
It is similar to Marpesia petreus.

Thanks to all for the quick responses.

Mark, if I had to name this one I might have chosen this name!

Guy, thanks for yours too, I did Google them and thought you were spot on (it just knowing where to start isn't it?) and I was about to catalogue No 1 as Ruddy Daggerwing when along comes Colin...

Colin, to me, as the completely inexperienced novice, they appear identical, what would make it Antillean rather than Ruddy? Wikipedia says both occur in Cuba.

Thanks again,

David

I did notice that the discal line on petreus is straight at v.4 but kinked on your butterfly. When I followed Colin's link I saw eleuchea has the kink so I knew he was right!

You are right - it is about knowing where to start. When you do, things suddenly get easier!

Guy

Yes, I can see the difference now you point it out, thank you both.

David

Before I read the above I was going to go with:
1. Southern Dagger Wing - Marpesia petreus
2. White Peacock - Anartia jatrophae
3. Zebra Heliconian - Heliconius charitonius
4. Two-barred Flasher - Astraptes fulgerator

Now I'm off to Google Dagger Wings!!