Butterflies in Costa Rica

Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)

• Achilles Morpho (Morpho achilles)
• Alcinoe Satyr (Magneuptychia alcinoe)
• American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
• American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
• Andromeda Satyr (Taygetis thamyra)
• Anna’s Eighty-eight (Diaethria anna)
• Ardys Crescent (Anthanassa ardys)
• Band-celled Sister (Adelpha fessonia)
• Banded Longwing (Dryadula phaetusa)
• Banded Peacock (Anartia fatima)
• Black-bordered Tegosa (Tegosa anieta)
• Blomfield’s Beauty (Smyrna blomfildia)
• Blue-frosted Banner (Catonephele numilia)
• Blue Wave (Myscelia cyaniris)
• Blushing Phantom (Cithaerias pireta)
• Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)
• California Sister (Adelpha californica)
• Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
• Chestnut Crescent (Anthanassa argentea)
• Clymenia Eighty-eight (Diaethria clymena)
• Clysonymus Longwing (Heliconius clysonymus)
• Common Brown Morpho (Antirrhea philoctetes)
• Common Crescent (Eresia clio)
• Confused Tigerwing (Mechanitis lysimnia)
• Crimson Patch (Chlosyne janais)
• Cuban Crescent (Anthanassa frisia)
• Cuban Crescentspot (Anthanassa tulcis)
• Cydno Longwing (Heliconius cydno)
• Definite Patch (Chlosyne definita)
• Deidamia Morpho (Morpho deidamia)
• Dingy Purplewing (Eunica monima)
• Dirce Beauty (Colobura dirce)
• Elf (Microtia elva)
• Faded Eighty-eight (Diaethria astala)
• Five-spotted Longwing (Heliconius hecalesia)
• Gaudy Sister (Adelpha boreas)
• Glasswing Butterfly (Greta oto)
• Gray Cracker (Hamadryas februa)
• Guatemalan Cracker (Hamadryas guatemalena)
• Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
• Helenor Morpho (Morpho helenor)
• Hermes Satyr (Hermeuptychia hermes)
• Isabella’s Longwing (Eueides isabella)
• Ismenius Tiger (Heliconius ismenius)
• Jazzy Leafwing (Hypna clytemnestra)
• Julia Heliconian (Dryas iulia)
• Juliette (Eueides aliphera)
• Juno (Dione juno)
• Malachite (Siproeta stelenes)
• Many-banded Daggerwing (Marpesia chiron)
• Meander Prepona (Archaeoprepona meander)
• Menapis Tigerwing (Mechanitis menapis)
• Mexican Bluewing (Myscelia ethusa)
• Mexican Emperor (Doxocopa cyane)
• Mexican Fritillary (Euptoieta hegesia)
• Mexican Silverspot (Dione moneta)
• Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
• Moon Satyr (Pierella luna)
• Menelaus Blue Morpho (Morpho menelaus)
• Noble Leafwing (Fountainea nobilis)
• One-banded Satyr (Pareuptychia metaleuca)
• One-spotted Prepona (Archaeoprepona demophon)
• Orange Admiral (Hypanartia lethe)
• Orange-spotted Tiger Clearwing (Mechanitis polymnia)
• Orion Cecropian (Historis odius)
• Pale Cracker (Hamadryas glauconome)
• Postman Butterfly (Heliconius melpomene)
• Queen (Danaus gilippus)
• Red Cracker (Hamadryas amphinome)
• Red Postman (Heliconius erato)
• Red Rim Butterfly (Biblis hyperia)
• Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata)
• Red-washed Satyr (Pierella helvina)
• Ringless Blue Cracker (Hamadryas iphthime)
• Rosita Patch (Chlosyne rosita)
• Rusty-tipped Page (Siproeta epaphus)
• Sapho Longwing (Heliconius sapho)
• Sara Longwing (Heliconius sara)
• Scarce Bamboo Page (Philaethria dido)
• Smooth-banded Sister (Adelpha cytherea)
• Soldier (Danaus eresimus)
• Spot-celled Sister (Adelpha basiloides)
• Tailed Cecropian (Historis acheronta)
• Tarricina Longwing (Tithorea tarricina)
• Theona Checkerspot (Chlosyne theona)
• Thick-tipped Greta (Greta morgane)
• Tiger Leafwing (Consul fabius)
• Tiger Longwing (Heliconius hecale)
• Tropical Buckeye (Junonia evarete)
• Tropical Milkweed Butterfly (Lycorea halia)
• Two-banded Satyr (Pareuptychia ocirrhoe)
• Variable Cracker (Hamadryas feronia)
• Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
• White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)
• White-spotted Prepona (Archaeoprepona amphimachus)
• Yellow-edged Giant Owl (Caligo atreus)
• Zavaleta Glasswing (Godyris zavaleta)
• Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)
•  Actinote anteas
•  Actinote melampeplos
•  Adelpha iphicleola
•  Adelpha tracta
•  Adelphia iphiclus iphiclus
•  Aeria eurimedia
•  Altinote ozomene
•  Anthanassa atronia
•  Anthanassa dracaena phlegias
•  Anthanassa drusilla
•  Archaeoprepona demophoon
•  Caligo brasiliensis sulana
•  Caligo eurilochus livius
•  Caligo illioneus oberon
•  Caligo telamonius
•  Callicore pitheas
•  Castilia eranites
•  Castilia griseobasalis
•  Castilia myia
•  Castilia ofella
•  Catonephele chromis
•  Chlosyne erodyle
•  Chlosyne ezra
•  Chlosyne gaudialis
•  Chlosyne hippodrome
•  Chlosyne poecile
•  Cissia labe
•  Cissia palladia
•  Cissia pompilia
•  Cissia pseudoconfusa
•  Consul electra
•  Consul panariste jansoni
•  Cyllopsis argentella
•  Cyllopsis hedemanni
•  Diaethria gabaza eupepla
•  Diaethria pandama
•  Dircenna dero
•  Dircenna klugii
•  Dircenna olyras
•  Doxocopa laurentia cherubina
•  Dulcedo polita
•  Dynamine agacles core
•  Dynamine paulina thalassina
•  Ectima erycinoides
•  Episcada salvinia
•  Eresia eunice
•  Eresia ithomioides
•  Eresia phillyra
•  Eunica alcmena alcmena
•  Euptychia insolata
•  Euptychia jesia
•  Euptychia westwoodi
•  Fountainea glycerium
•  Godyris nero
•  Greta annette
•  Greta polissena umbrana
•  Hamadryas fornax
•  Hamadryas laodamia saurites
•  Heliconius doris viridis
•  Heliconius hewitsonii
•  Heliconius pachinus
•  Hermeuptychia harmonia
•  Heterosais giulia
•  Hypanartia trimaculata autumna
•  Hypoleria lavinia
•  Hyposcada virginiana
•  Hypothyris euclea
•  Ithomia heraldica
•  Ithomia jucunda
•  Ithomia patilla
•  Ithomia xenos
•  Magneuptychia libye
•  Marpesia berania fruhstorferi
•  Marpesia merops
•  Memphis ambrosia ambrosia
•  Memphis arginussa eubaena
•  Memphis aulica
•  Morpho menelaus amathonte
•  Nica flavilla
•  Oleria paula
•  Oleria vicina
•  Oxeoschistus cothon
•  Oxeoschistus puerta submaculatus
•  Oxeoschistus tauropolis
•  Pedaliodes manis
•  Praepronophila perperna
•  Pseudodebis zimri
•  Pseudoscada pusio
•  Pteronymia alcmena
•  Pteronymia latilla
•  Pteronymia picta notilla
•  Pteronymia rufocincta
•  Pyrrhogyra crameri
•  Pyrrhogyra neaerea
•  Satyrotaygetis satyrina
•  Scada zibia xanthina
•  Temenis laothoe
•  Yphthimoides renata
•  Zaretis ellops

Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)

• Alea Hairstreak (Strymon alea)
• Blue Copper (Lycaena heteronea)
• Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius)
• Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)
• Dusky-blue Groundstreak (Calycopis isobeon)
• Eastern Tailed-blue (Cupido comyntas)
• Gold-bordered Hairstreak (Rekoa palegon)
• Mallow Hairstreak (Strymon istapa)
• Red-crescent Scrub-hairstreak (Strymon rufofusca)
• Red-spotted Hairstreak (Tmolus echion)
• Tropical Green Hairstreak (Cyanophrys herodotus)
• Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis)
• Arawacus togarna
• Arzecla sethon
• Calycopis drusilla
• Erora opisena
• Gargina emessa
• Panthiades bitias
• Rubroserrata mathewi
• Strephonota syedra
• Strymon megarus
• Strymon ziba

Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)

• Common Melwhite (Melete lycimnia)
• Crisia Mimic White (Dismorphia crisia)
• Giant White (Ganyra josephina)
• Orange-barred Sulphur (Phoebis philea)
• Painted White (Pieriballia viardi)
• Pamela (Perrhybris pamela)
• Pine White (Catasticta nimbice)
• Salome Yellow (Eurema salome)
• Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe)
• Statira Sulphur (Aphrissa statira)
• Tailed Orange (Pyrisitia proterpia)
• Tiger Mimic White (Dismorphia amphione)
• White-angled Sulphur (Anteos clorinde)
• Yellow Angled-sulphur (Anteos maerula)
•  Archonias brassolis
•  Catasticta flisa
•  Catasticta hegemon hegemon
•  Catasticta sisamnus
•  Catasticta teutila
•  Dismorphia zaela oreas
•  Enantia mazai
•  Eurema elathea elathea
•  Eurema xantochlora xantochlora
•  Ganyra phaloe limona
•  Leodonta tellane
•  Leptophobia caesia tenuicornis
•  Pereute charops
•  Pereute cheops
•  Perrhybris lypera septentrionalis
•  Pyrisitia venusta

Metalmark (Riodinidae)

• Blue Metalmark (Lasaia sula)
• Blue-winged Eurybia (Eurybia lycisca)
• Lucinda Metalmark (Emesis lucinda)
• Rawson’s Metalmark (Calephelis rawsoni)
• Red-bordered Pixie (Melanis pixe)
• Rounded Metalmark (Calephelis perditalis)
• Wright’s Metalmark (Calephelis wrighti)
• Baeotis zonata
• Calephelis iris
• Calephelis schausi
• Calephelis velutina
• Calospila lucianus
• Detritivora barnesi
• Emesis mandana
• Emesis ocypore aethalia
• Eurybia patrona
• Eurybia unxia
• Euselasia cheles
• Lasaia sessilis
• Melanis electron melantho
• Mesosemia asa
• Mesosemia carissima
• Mesosemia ceropia
• Mesosemia lamachus
• Myselasia mystica mystica
• Napaea umbra
• Necyria duellona beltiana
• Nymphidium azanoides
• Parcella amarynthina
• Rhetus arcius
• Synargis mycone
• Theope virgilius
• Thisbe lycorias

Swallowtail (Papilionidae) 

• Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
• Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
• Pink-spotted Cattleheart (Parides photinus)
• Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas)
• Ruby Spotted Swallowtail (Papilio anchisiades)
• Variable Cattleheart (Parides erithalion)
• Montezuma’s Cattleheart (Parides montezuma)
• Arcas Cattleheart (Parides eurimedes)
• Southern Cattleheart (Parides sesostris)
• Green-celled Cattleheart (Parides childrenae)
• Wedge-spotted Cattleheart (Parides panares)
• Iphidamas Cattleheart (Parides iphidamas)
• Battus belus
• Protesilaus macrosilaus
• Mimoides ilus
• Papilio victorinus
• Papilio thoas
• Papilio astyalus
• Papilio erostratus

Skipper (Hesperiidae)

• Alana White-skipper (Heliopetes alana)
• Alumna Skipper (Cymaenes alumna)
• Belt’s Myscelus (Myscelus belti)
• Belus Skipper (Phocides belus)
• Bluish Longtail (Urbanus viterboana)
• Bluish Mottled-skipper (Codatractus imalena)
• Bold Mylon (Mylon lassia)
• Brazilian Skipper (Calpodes ethlius)
• Broad Banded-skipper (Autochton neis)
• Broken Silverdrop (Epargyreus exadeus)
• Bruised Skipper (Zera hyacinthinus)
• Central American Banded-skipper (Autochton vectilucis)
• Chisos Banded-skipper (Autochton cincta)
• Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)
• Creon Skipper (Creonpyge creon)
• Cryptic Skipper (Noctuana lactifera)
• Dark Telemiades (Telemiades nicomedes)
• Delicate Skipper (Apaustus gracilis)
• Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes)
• Double-striped Longtail (Urbanus belli)
• Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris)
• Echina Skipper (Aethilla echina)
• Eight-spotted Longtail (Polythrix octomaculata)
• Erichson’s White-skipper (Heliopyrgus domicella)
• Esmeralda Longtail (Urbanus esmeraldus)
• Falcate Skipper (Spathilepia clonius)
• Fawn-spotted Skipper (Cymaenes trebius)
• Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
• Frosted Flasher (Astraptes alardus)
• Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis)
• Giant Sicklewing (Achlyodes busirus heros)
• Glassy-winged Skipper (Xenophanes tryxus)
• Gmelin’s Banded-skipper (Autochton bipunctalis)
• Godma Tufted-skipper (Nisoniades godma)
• Golden-snouted Sootywing (Staphylus vulgata)
• Green Flasher (Astraptes talus)
• Guava Skipper (Phocides polybius)
• Hammock Skipper (Polygonus leo)
• Hermit Skipper (Grais stigmaticus)
• Jalapus Cloudywing (Thessia jalapus)
• Latonia Skipper (Cobalopsis latonia)
• Laviana White-skipper (Heliopetes laviana)
• Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)
• Manuel’s Skipper (Polygonus savigny)
• Mexican Longtail (Polythrix mexicanus)
• Mimosa Skipper (Cogia calchas)
• Northern Sicklewing (Eantis tamenund)
• Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola)
• Pale Sicklewing (Achlyodes pallida)
• Pallid Scarlet-eye (Bungalotis quadratum)
• Plain Longtail (Urbanus simplicius)
• Pronus Longtail (Urbanus pronus)
• Pusilla Skipper (Sostrata pusilla pusilla)
• Radiant Skipper (Callimormus radiola)
• Red-studded Skipper (Noctuana stator)
• Royal Firetip (Mysoria barcastus ambigua)
• Saturnus Skipper (Callimormus saturnus)
• Sharp Banded-skipper (Autochton zarex)
• Short-tailed Flasher (Astraptes brevicauda)
• Small-spotted Flasher (Astraptes egregius)
• Southern Broken Dash (Wallengrenia otho)
• Spike Banded-skipper (Autochton longipennis)
• Spot-banded Longtail Evans (Urbanus pronta)
• Squared Bent-skipper (Helias cama)
• Striped Blue-skipper (Quadrus contubernalis)
• Tanna Longtail (Urbanus tanna)
• Tanned Blue-skipper (Quadrus lugubris)
• Teleus Longtail (Urbanus teleus)
• Trailside Skipper (Anthoptus epictetus)
• Tropical Checkered Skipper (Burnsius oileus)
• Turquoise Longtail (Urbanus evona)
• Two-barred Flasher (Astraptes fulgerator)
• Unicorn Sootywing (Staphylus unicornis)
• Veined White Skipper (Heliopetes arsalte)
• Whirlabout (Polites vibex)
• White Checkered-skipper (Burnsius albescens)
• White-patched Skipper (Chiomara georgina)
• Wind’s Skipper (Windia windi)
• Yellow-rimmed Scarlet-eye (Porphyrogenes calathana)
• Yellow-rimmed Skipper (Aethilla lavochrea)
• Yellow-tipped Flasher (Astraptes anaphus)
• Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon)
• Zilpa Longtail (Chioides zilpa)
• Amblyscirtes folia
• Anatrytone mella
• Ancyloxypha arene
• Antigonus erosus
• Arita arita
• Chioides catillus
• Cobalopsis nero
• Decinea percosius
• Lerodea arabus
• Lerodea eufala
• Lucida lucia oebasus
• Neoxeniades luda
• Niconiades incomptus
• Nyctelius nyctelius
• Oxynthes corusca
• Panoquina hecebolus
• Poanes melane
• Pompeius pompeius
• Quasimellana aurora
• Quasimellana eulogius
• Remella duena
• Remella rita
• Remella vopiscus
• Saliana antoninus
• Saliana esperi
• Sostrata bifasciata leucorrhoa
• Talides alternata
• Thespieus macareus
• Typhedanus undulatus
• Urbanus procne
• Vacerra litana
• Vettius marcus

There are several places to see butterflies in Costa Rica, including Mariposario Montezuma Gardens, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, and the butterfly sanctuary near La Fortuna.