This guide contains images of most of the larger butterflies and moths so far photographed at Tandayapa Bird Lodge. About 300 species are included, including many that have not yet been identified. Ecuador is unique amongst South American countries in having a complete guide to its macrolepidoptera, Mariposas del Ecuador, actively in preparation. Half the volumes have already been published, including those covering several of the larger families (Nymphalidae, Sphingidae, Saturniidae, Notodontidae, most of the Arctiidae, and about half of the Noctuiidae). This series is largely the work of Padre Fransisco Piñas Rubio, who continues to turn out new volumes every few months, and it is because of these books and his help that I have been able to identify many of the amazing lepidoptera found at the Lodge.
I have tried to photograph every species of moth and butterfly that I have found at Tandayapa in the past two years. Most of these have been insects attracted to the lights outside the Lodge, so they represent only a sample from one point. The number of species found over the whole property must be incredible, and there are many species that got away at the lights. Of those that I have photographed, I have been able to identify most of the species in the families that have so far been covered by Mariposas del Ecuador, but there are still some individuals that I have not been able to name. Outside these families the identifications are very patchy (notably in the Geometridae). If you can help with any of the unkown species, please contact me via the Tandayapa e-mail adress. Many of the species in Mariposas del Ecuador are given only numbers (Euglyphis sp1, Euglyphis sp2, etc). These represent undescribed taxa or those that Padre Piñas has not been able to identify. I have used the same numbers in this guide so that at least there is some reference for them. I hope that one day they will have names.
The galleries are arranged by family, and can be accessed by clicking the names or pictures below. Identifying moths to family is sometimes not an easy task, so you you may find yourself guessing a lot to start with, especially if you are used only to temperate species and families. The index below includes images of three representatives of each of the larger families to give you an idea of what they look like.
Mark Gurney
