At the biological crossroads of the Americas, Costa Rica hosts an astonishing array of plants and animals - over half a million species! Eco-tourists, birders, and biologists come from around the world, drawn by the likelihood of seeing more than three or four hundred species of birds and other animals during even a short stay. To help all these visitors, as well as local residents, identify and enjoy the wildlife of Costa Rica, Carrol Henderson published "Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica" in 2002, and it instantly became the indispensable guide. Now Henderson has created a dedicated field guide to more than one hundred tropical butterflies, moths, and other invertebrates that travellers are most likely to see while exploring the wild lands of Costa Rica.
He includes fascinating information on their natural history, ecology, identification, and behavior gleaned from his forty years of travels and wildlife viewing, as well as details on where to see these remarkable and beautiful creatures. The butterflies, moths, and other invertebrates are illustrated by over 180 stunning and colorful photographs - most of which were aken in the wild by Henderson. A detailed and invaluable appendix that identifies many of Costa Rica's best wildlife-watching destinations, lodges, and contact information for trip-planning purposes completes the volume.
Foreword by Dr. Daniel H. Janzen; Preface; Acknowledgments INTRODUCTION Historical Perspective; Research; Education; Preservation; Conservation; Nature Tourism; Geography; Biogeography; Migratory Species; Endemic Species; Endemic Wildlife of the Highlands; Endemic Species of the Southern Pacific Lowlands; Endemic Species of Cocos Island; Endemic Species and DNA Barcoding Revelations; Major Biological Zones; Tropical Dry Forest; Southern Pacific Lowlands; Central Plateau (Central Valley); Caribbean Lowlands; Highlands; Coastal Beaches, Islands, and Mangrove Lagoons; Wildlife Overview and Species Coverage BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS: SPECIES ACCOUNTS Skipper Family (Hesperiidae); Swallowtail Family (Papilionidae); Hairstreak Family (Lycaenidae); Brush-footed Butterfly Family (Nymphalidae); Flannel Moth Family (Megalopygidae); Carpenter Worm Family (Cossidae); Castniid Moth Family (Castniidae); Giant Silkworm Moth Family (Saturniidae); Sphinx Moth Family (Sphingidae); Uraniid Moth Family (Uraniidae); Geometrid Moth Family (Geometridae); Noctuid Moth Family (Noctuidae); Arctiid Moth Family (Arctiidae) OTHER INVERTEBRATES: SPECIES ACCOUNTS Order Odonata; Giant Damselfly Family (Pseudostigmatidae); Order Orthoptera; Katydid Family (Tettigoniidae); Grasshopper Family (Acrididae); Order Dictyoptera; Mantis Family (Mantidae); Order Isoptera; Termite Family (Termitidae); Order Homoptera; Lantern Bug Family (Fulgoridae); Order Neuroptera; Dobson Fly Family (Corydalidae); Order Coleoptera; Long-horned Beetle Family (Cerambycidae); Scarab Beetle Family (Scarabaeidae); Order Hymenoptera; Bee Family (Apidae); Ant Family (Formicidae); Order Araneae; Orb-weaver Spider Family (Tetragnathidae); Order Polydesmida; Millipede Family (Platyrhacidae); Order Decapoda; Rock Runner Crab Family (Grapsidae); Land Crab Family (Gecarcinidae) Glossary; Bibliography Appendices APPENDIX A. Costa Rica Conservation Organizations; APPENDIX B. Wildlife Tourism Sites and Field Stations of Costa Rica; APPENDIX C. Costa Rica Trip Preparation Checklist; APPENDIX D. Travel Tips for a Successful Wildlife Viewing Trip in Costa Rica About the Author; Index