Jade-striped Sylph

We should have spent more time at La Selva Reserve in Costa Rica on 15 July. We stopped at an overgrown pond in the jungle and a small stream at the edge of the reserve. At the stream, we netted this Jade-striped Sylph. This dragonfly cruises slow-flowing, forested streams in south-central Texas south through Mexico to Venezuela. They either perch on leaves or hang from bushy stems (Paulson 2009).

Great Butterfly Moth

As we were leaving La Selva Tropical Research Station on 15 July 2017, we chanced upon a Great Butterly Moth, Castniomera atymnius. These moths fly by day, so confusing them with butterflies is easy. Unlike most other moths, this species has clubbed antennae. These moths range from Mexico to Brazil. The larvae develop on Heliconia and the adults often visit banana trees.

Pale-banded Darner

Pale-banded Darners (Gynacantha gracilis) are fround from Central America to Argentina. Williamson reports this species in ponds with dense, knee-high vegetation. This description fairly well matches the habitat we found it—an overgrown pond in the forest at La Selva Tropical Research Station on Costa Rica on 15 July 2017.

Swamp Skimmer

Swamp Skimmers (Orthemis cultriformis) are widespread from Costa Rica to Argentina. The species is reported from streams and rivers, temporary pools and marshes in the forest (Guillion)—exactly the habitat we found this one. We encountered it at Costa Rica's La Selva Tropical Research Station at a dragonfly-laden and overgrown forest pond on 15 July 2017.

Gold-tipped Darner

A Gold-tipped Darner (Gynacantha tibiata) was an amazing dragonfly at La Selva Biological Station. It patrolled back and forth, low over the jungle pond we searched on 15 July 2017. What was different was that it would occasioonally stop and hover in mid-air. This species inhabits forest ponds from Costa Rica south into Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

Strawberry Poison Dart Frog

Erika was surprised at the small size of this red poison dart frog. We had been looking for one, discovering this frog at the dragonfly pond at La Selva Tropical Research Station on 15 July. The race of Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates pumilio) in Costa Rica is sometimes called the Blue Jean Poison Dart Frog. They kind of seem to be wearing blue jeans.

Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs are abundant from Nicaragua to Panama. Poison dart frogs are named for their poisonous skin. Their bright color serves as an effective warning to most predators. As a result these frogs are active during the day. Males tend their eggs after mating, even keeping them damp by bringing water to them or urinating on the eggs (Animal sake). Females feed their young with the female’s unfertilized eggs (Wikipedia). This sacrifice of reproductive potential seems to be odd and suggests low survival of clutches that lack such maternal care.

Fork-tailed Dasher

Fork-tailed Dashers (Micrathyria mengeri) range from Guatemala and Belize to northern South America. The species frequents grassy ditches and flooded meadows. We found several at a small forest pond at La Selva Biological Station in central Costa Rica on 15 July 2017. This species’ blue eyes are typical of the genus.

Blue-striped Spreadwing

Erika and I found a Blue-striped Spreadwing at La Selva Reserve in Heredia, Costa Rica, on 15 July 2017. This damselfly perched on the underside of a plant in an overgrown pond that was surrounded by jungle. The species ranges from southern Texas and southern Florida to northern South America and the Antilles. Males, like this one, usually perch over water in thick vegetation. Although July is within the wet season in Costa Rica, Paulson (2011) suggests that this species, at least in some parts of its range, may spend the winter as adults and the wet season as larvae.

Amberwing (Perithemis sp. nov.)

A dragonfly without a name greeted us at the jungle pond we visited at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica on 15 July 2017. Clearly an amberwing, this dragonfly has yet to be described by entomologists. Our guide, Dennis Paulson, was aware of this creature’s existence. He commented that scientists just haven’t gotten around to publishing a name or description.

Bromeliad Helicopter

As we approached a dragonfly-laden pond at La Selva Reserve in Heridea, Costa Rica on 15 July 2017, we spied the third helicopter damselfly our our tour. Bromeliad Helicopters range found from northern Mexico to Colombia. Abbott includes this species as one to be looked for in southern Texas. Amundrud et al. found this damselfly’s range is restricted by low temperatures and high mountain ranges. This species may actually benefit from global warming. In any case, Bromeliad Helicopters are habitat specialists—the larvae only develop in tank bromeliads. In La Selva, this species is found mainly in secondary forests and is not as common as other helicopter damsels.