John Shuey

Paul Labus

Preliminary Butterfly results

The number of specimens sampled was fairly low given the sample effort. Approximately 300 specimens were captured during ~20 person days of sampling effort. Two factors contributed to the low catch rate. The cool rainy weather which prevailed during the expedition limited flight activity of most butterfly species, which in turn depressed our ability to sample. And ironically, the undisturbed nature of the habitat contributed to the low encounter rate as well. Most butterflies visit flowers to feed, and are most easily sampled along forest edges and openings where early successional plants often bloom profusely. Almost no such habitat existed in the vicinity of Doyle’s Delight. Although the recent bamboo die off created scattered openings within the previous few months, early successional plants had not yet fully responded to the these newly open habitats and very few species were producing blooms. Likewise the helipad and trail systems were freshly cleared and offered few flowers that were attractive to butterflies.

Despite the low numbers of butterflies captured, we estimate that ten or more species are new country records for Belize. Although the samples are currently being prepared and are not yet available for detailed examination, there are some obvious and spectacular records included.

Prepona deiphile undetermined subspecies. NEW COUNTRY RECORD. A spectacular member of the Nymphalidae subfamily Charaxinae, this species ranges from southern Mexico through Brazil. In Central America it is considered rare and localized, and is very poorly known south of Mexico. It is generally considered to be a montane species of rainforest habitats.	Caerois species (probably C. gerdrudtus). NEW COUNTRY RECORD. A satyr-like member of the Nymphalidae subfamily Morphinae, which includes such spectacular and well known species as the “blue morpho”. The genus Caerois is reported throughout tropical South America, northward to Costa Rica where it is considered rare in lowland swamp forests. The DD record is notable as a significant range extension and the habitat at DD differs significantly from that reported from Costa Rica.
Agrias aedon rodriguezi An exceptionally rare species of Charaxinae otherwise known from Belize from Cockscomb Basin. This subspecies is distributed from southern Mexico to Costa Rica, but is unreported from most intervening countries.	Morpho polyphemus Probably the most common buttefly at Doyle's Delight during our visit. Here a male about to enter a fruit baited butterfly trap.

Article on the trip in The Nature Conservancy Indiana Update, Fall 2007, Winter 2008 (PDF, 614kb)

Same article as above but then from the TNC website

Full report of this trip

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