Species reared by Omar and his daughters Hamadryas amphinome mexicana on Dalechampia scandens (Euphorbiaceae) .... .... .... Unlike the most Hamadryas which lay their eggs singly, amphinome lays theirs in strings of 5-8 eggs. I failed to get a sharp image but you can get see that they are laid on the underside of a leaf. These eggs are collected and placed on a potted plant on the table where they can be watched. Like many Hamadryas, they are gregarious. .... .... .... .... .... .... Caligo atreus dionysos .... .... .... Caligo atreus dionysos is arguably the prettiest of the five species of Caligo occurring in Costa Rica. The eggs are laid singly and are kept in jars until hatching, at which time they are placed on a leaf. Young larvae tend to be gregarious, resting along a leaf’s midrib during the day. In one photo you can see the head capsule from one that recently molted. .... .... .... .... Older larvae are more independent and can be seen resting on the upper surface of leaves or like other Caligo, resting on the base of the plant. A portion of the pupae produced are kept for breeding purposes. Here three empty chrysalids are still pinned to a post. .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... Battus polydamas on Aristilochea (Aristilochiaceae) .... .... .... .... The larvae of this common swallowtail are plump in all stages. They have osmeteria, scent glands everted from the base of the head, but they don’t seem to use them as a defense against photographers who tickle their back. What I found most interesting about this species is that the silk used to secure the pupal stage is black. .... .... .... .... Anteos clorinde on Cassia emarginata (Caesalpinaceae) .... Collected eggs are kept in a jar until hatching and are then placed on cuttings. Because the host plant is a tree, cuttings are used entirely for rearing this species. .... .... .... Back to Grifo Alto de Puriscal . .