sábado, 20 de fevereiro de 2010

PLAYING WITH THE BUTTERFLIES OF PASSARADA


The Myth
From Collages
The Papago, native North Americans tell us in a legend that once upon a time, the Creator felt sorry for the children, when he realized that their destiny was to grow old, fat, blind and to die. So he collected the fountains for the most beautiful colors of the universe, the flowers, the leaves, the sun, the skies and mixed and bundled them up in a package as a gift for the children. When they opened up the bundle, the butterflies, colorful and enchanting flew out in song, much to the delight of the children. And fright by the song birds, who jealous, protested and petionned the Creator.

And there we have it, we got what we got.

http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/HowTheButterfliesCameToBe-Papago.html

The Naming Game

Butterflies are classified as insects in the order of the Lepidopters –from the Latin lepidor - scales and ptera – wings. Fossil finds, although rare, suggest they emerged in tandem with the flowers (Angiosperms), during the Cretacious period, about 135 million years ago… million years ago.

Taxonomy, or the naming game can be fun, if you take it with a grain of salt.  Edward Abbey comes to mind in Desert Solitaire when he cries:
” why name them? Vanity, vanity, nothing but vanity: the itch for naming things is almost as bad as the itch for possessing things.”

But what a joy when, only yesterday, I found out that my two sided fruit eater was named Hamadryas amphinome or Red crack (estaladeira vermelha) and that she belonged to a family.
Here is a list of all named butterflies seen during my stay at the Passarada farm. In order, common names, scientific name, taxonomic family and notes.

The nameless ones will follow soon.


The Butterflies of Passarada

Monarch - monarca, Danaus plerippus, Nymphalidae.
Monarchs have a liquid diet and their caterpillars feed exclusively on the asclepias plant, called "algodaozinho do campo" in Brazil and protected at the Passarada farm.  The butterfly is losing habitat in North America.


Manaca, Methoma themisto, Nymphalidae.
Manaca (Brunfelsia sp.) is an important shrub in the life of this butterfly and the only food for its' caterpillar.  Bloom was early this year.
O manacá é importante na vida desta borboleta, pois sua lagarta alimenta-se exclusivamente dele.  O manaca estava em flor cedo na fazenda, em janeiro de 2010.


88, Diatheria clymena, Nymphalidae.
Like many butterflies, the 88 has different colors inside and outside, as one more mechanism to deter predators. See more photos on the side panel. 
Consegui fotografá-la com as asas abertas e para minha surprêsa, era azul e preta por dentro (ou por fora). Uma bela borboleta, pequena de porte. Vimos também uma parecida com ela, com uma faixa triangular alaranjada e prêta na parte posterior das asas fechadas.

Adelpha ?, Adelpha sp., Papilionidae.
Small butterfly with exquisite scalopped black patterns.
Borboleta pequena com belos desenhos em relevo na parte preta das asas.


Helicon - Maria Boba, Heliconius ethila, Heliconiidae, Nymphalidae.


Small and fast, a common butterfly at the farm.
Bastante comum, pequena e rapida. Esta encontrei morta.



Chestnut - Castanha vermelha, Heliconius erato, Heliconiidae, Nymphalidae (no photos)

Morph - Azulão & others, Morpho sp., Morphoidae, Nymphalidae (no photos)
Huge blue butterflies that fly majestically inside the forest. Borboletas azuis enormes que voam com pompa dentro da mata.

Crack - Estaladeira, Hamadryas sp., Nymphalidae.

Red Crack – Estaladeira vermelha, Hamadryas amphinome., Nymphalidae.






Swallowtail – Rabo de Andorinha, Heraclides thoas?, Papilonidae.
Swallowtail – Caixao de defunto, Papilonidae.

Swallowtail – Rabo de andorinha vermelha, Papilonidae.


Mourning Rose - Rosa de luto, Papilio anchysiades capys, Papilonidae.
Seen once in flight at the farm. Avistada uma vez em voo na fazenda.





Cabbage – Branquinhas (Couve), Ascia monuste, Pieridae (no photos)

Yolk – Gema ou Amarelinhas, Phoebis sp., Pieridae. (no photos)
Yellow and orange butterflies of all sizes are everywhere at the site and can be seen high up among the trees.  Amarelas e laranjas de todos tamanhos sao avistadas por toda parte na fazenda e podem ser observadas pairando nas arvores mais altas.

Coruja, Owl,  Caligo beltrao, Nymphalidae
Tropical, Crepuscular flight. Large butterfly.  I saw it once, inside the house, tapped against the window, in the panic of her escape.  Great markings.
Voo crepuscular. Apesar de comum, só a vi uma vez, de tarde, agora em Janeiro de 2010, quando voou pra dentro da casa e se debateu contra os vidros da janela fechada da sala. Era bem ela no pânico do seu escape. Parece uma bruxa maripôsa.

Ox’s eye – Olho de boi, Eryphanis reevesii, Nymphalidae

Seen once on the road to the farm. Avistada na estrada para a fazenda, em enxames. 



All photos are mine. Drawings by Clube Aquila. Visit their beautiful site for more drawings and text.
Todas fotos sao minhas.  Desenhos de Clube Aquila.  Visite o belo site deles para mais desenhos e texto.   http://www.clubeaquila.hpg.ig.com.br/BORBOLETA.htm

Um comentário:

  1. I think you have found a medium and content for your passion. I am enjoying your blog, and again, I am impressed by your burgeoning publishing skills. In Qinten Tarrentino' Reservoir Dogs, the violence begins with naming. My favorite butterfly photo is of Diantha clymena, Nymphalidae. I like that name.

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