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Emerald-Patched Cattleheart Butterfly

Parides sesostris zestos

Photo by pamsai
Published on Project Noah
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10.15, -83.81

Field Notes

Description:

Parides sesostris is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae native to the Americas. It is commonly known as the Emerald-patched Cattleheart and the Southern Cattleheart.

Reference Links:

Parides sesostris

Species ID Suggestions

Emerald-Patched Cattleheart Butterfly

Parides sesostris

Reference Link
eelhsamarie
1

Comments (15)
pamsai
Thanks bayucca for your kind words of encouragement. They are much appreciated. And I may have a large collection of butterflies, but the quality of the ones you have, is far better superior. Quantiy verses quality, and quality wins most time, in my book. I have to get a new lens that lets in more light when zooming in the rainforest and dark places! Bit worried about the weight, though! I am not as young as I would like to be, when carrying heavy things around! We shall see! And I'll keep on trying with the ID's. Sometimes I'm inclined to give up I'm afraid. The 2 examples you gave were easy to see the difference. My problem is how to get to those 2 images in first place. How to narrow down the search. It must be just experience, as I can't find any place on that site to scroll through thumbnails. One just to have some idea of the name to start with. Still, slowly getting there.. THANK YOU!
bayucca
Taking great picture is one part of the game and you are a champion. I am jealous of your great collection of butterflies! IDing all these beauties is the other part of the game. Look at these 2 butterflies: http://butterfliesofamerica.com/imagehtmls/Nymphalidae/Heliconius_hecale_melicerta_F_PANAMA_CANAL_AREA_Howard_AFB_6-X-84-MGCL-3_i.htm http://butterfliesofamerica.com/imagehtmls/Nymphalidae/Heliconius_hecale_zuleika_M_COSTA_RICA_PUNTARENAS_Palmar_Norte_17-IX-70-MGCL-3_i.htm Please, do not think that I can vizualize these 2 in my brain, no chance! I have to open both and compare by changeing several times the screen to compare from spot to spot, patch to patch. OK, in the meanwhile I know most of the key criterias. Take this one: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/37758022 No chance to vizualize, I almost got a headache with "my" procedure. Take Caligo and Hamadryas... Checking all spots and markings, compare and re-compare, again and again. Sometimes, I just have to give up at the moment due to lack of time for a profound search and comparison (like your Hamadryas). There are many easy ones to ID and there are many, many tricky ones. Sometimes I have not even an IDea where to start my search. And sometimes you really have to be in best shape and mood for ID work. Please, do not be disencouraged, if you do not find an ID, just trust your eyes and never any library. You are in best form for taking pictures, try to get closer and closer with IDeas (and you are getting better and better anyway) and for the rest, Project Noah is here to help out! And hey, I am really jealous ;-)...
pamsai
Ok I added the closed wing photo I think is Emerald-Patched Cattleheart. And i came across something I think fits me perfectly. The person said, "With my inability to pick up visual differences..." I have never been able to vizualize or hold an image in my head. I think that is why I find it so difficult to compare my photos with the various images on the net. I can't hold the image in my head long enough to compare it with my photo! Feel a bit better now about not being able to ID my photos. Still I'll keep trying, but I'm glad I have bayucca and all the other PN-ers to help me. Thank you all so much...
pamsai
Right! Thanks bayucca... Now to sort out the spottings on PN...
bayucca
#5 and #6 are probably the same but different from the rest.
pamsai
bayucca, I am not sure at all... There were 2 species flying around together. The larger one with a green spot and a slightly smaller one with white spot and more prominent red. Unfortunately I have them mixed up I think. I'll go through the photos again and see if I can clear it up!
bayucca
Are you sure that #5 is the same one as #1 to 4? What about 5 and 6 are the same?
Jellis
Subspecies Parides sesostris zestos
bayucca
Are you sure that #6 is the same spotting?
pamsai
Added a photo that shows the red patch on the lower wing that was visible when it was flying.
pamsai
You are welcome tmvdh. I have MANY more to add and when I get time I'll add all those moths I uploaded before! I am happy you made the mission so I have somewhere to add them...
tmvdh
Hi Pam, THANKS for adding so many GREAT photos/spottings to my mission!!!
bayucca
Sesostris was also my guess, but the missing white patches on the forewing are confusing. I will check this one again.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Paso Pacifico Survey
Mission
Insects of Costa Rica
Mission
Life in Costa Rica
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 5, 2013

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