Butterfly Boxes of Honduras
There are around 700 different species of butterflies in Honduras. Few creatures in the animal kingdom can match the brilliant coloring of iridescent blue tropical Morpho butterflies or the beauty of the jewel-like markings on the Lycaenidae. As some butterflies fly from flower to flower, carrying pollen on their slender coiled proboscis, others are busy sucking liquid from rotten bananas and mangos or drinking water from damp ground along the crystal clear streams.
The following are some of the butterfly boxes you will see at the museum.
Click on any picture to see it larger.
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| Brassolidae | Danaidae | Ithomiidae |
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| Heliconidae | Hesperiidae | Morphidae |
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| Papilionidae | Lycaenidae | Pieridae |
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| Nymphalidae | Riodinidae | Castniidae and Libytheidae |
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Butterfly/Moth Variety | There are 13 butterfly families in Honduras. |
Brassolidae: (Owl's Eyes) The Brassolidae are medium to very large in size and only found in the Neotropical region. The underside has zigzag lines of different colors and ocelli (or eye-spots) of varying size and number. They are sluggish fliers and are common at dawn and dusk. They are fruit feeders. They are protected by calling attention to their false eyes on the underside of the wings. Many birds will attack this spot and only get a mouthful of wing as the butterfly flies off to safety.
Danaidae: (Milkweed Butterflies) The danaids are large and brightly colored, usually brownish with black and white markings. Many males have black hair patches on the hind wing or hair brushes that come out of the abdomen. They are bad tasting and birds will vomit or may even die if they eat a monarch. The Central American monarchs do not migrate as do those in Canada and the United States.
Ithomiidae: (Clear Wings) The clearwings are small to medium-sized. A great number have completely transparent wings. Others have translucent amber or are tiger-striped. Most are slow fliers and prefer the deeper, darker parts of the forest. The males have hairs on the coastal area of the hind wings just under the front wing. These hairs release a pheromone or scent to attract the females. They are distasteful to predators and many other butterflies will mimic, or look like, the Ithomiids and also be protected.
Heliconidae: The heliconians are brightly colored and recognized by the elongate forewing, large eyes and long antennae. The species that feed on pollen acquire amino acids and can live up to seven months. They have distasteful fluids in their bodies and are avoided by predators.
Hesperiidae: (Skippers) The skippers are small and stout-bodied, and they get their name from their fast and erratic flight. the antennae are widely separated at the base, and the tips are usually curved or hooked.
Morphidae: (Morphos) These butterflies are some of the most spectacular of all butterflies. Most are found in the lowland forests and only feed on rotting fruit or fungi. There are few sights more spectacular than watching the lazy flight of a male Morpho cypris or close relative lazily sail above the canopy of the rain forest or along a river on a brilliant sunny day. Most are iridescent blue.
Papilionidae: (Swallowtails) These are medium to large-sized butterflies with bright colors. They flutter their wings when feeding at flowers. Some species have tail extensions. The red and black species are bad tasting and are protected from predators.
Lycaenidae: (Hairstreaks) The hairstreaks are usually dark gray, brownish or blue with delicate striping on the underside of the wings and usually with small reddish spots in the back part of the hind wings. There are usually two or three hair like tails on the hind wings. They sit on bushes with their wings folded up over the body and move both the tails. It looks like they have two heads. Lizards and other predators bite the moving tails and the butterfly can escape.
Pieridae: (Whites and Sulfurs) Nearly all are white, yellow or orange with simple patterns. Their color or pigment comes from the uric acid wastes of the body. The females almost always differ from the males in color. Sometimes hundreds can be found at puddles.
Nymphalidae: (Brush-Footed) This is the largest family of butterflies and contains many common species. They have only four walking legs. The forelegs are greatly reduced. They come in a great variety of colors and shapes. Quite a few species are sexually dimorphic, meaning that the male is a different color than the female. The undersides of the blue-striped Prepona protect them as they are camouflaged against the bark of the trees.
Riodinidae: (Metalmarks) These are some of the most richly marked and chaotically variegated butterflies of the world. All are small and very secretive. They are often seen flicking past one on a forest path to suddenly disappear from sight. They hide under a leaf, antennae held forward, eyes peeping out from the margin of the leaf, watching intently and observing the observer with suspicion.
Castniidae: These butterflies have both butterfly and moth characteristics. They have a very fast flight and prefer sunny days. Most species live in the high parts of the forest. The males defend their territory against big insects and even attack small birds.
Libytheidae: (Snouts) These are small brownish butterflies with long projecting palps that resemble a snout or a beak. There are only two or three species in the Americas.