A Greta oto glass-winged butterfly uses its straw-like proboscis to drink nectar. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, Belize

Morpho peleides, the common morpho, is perhaps the most widely-recognized insect in the Neotropics. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, Cayo District, Belize

Blue Morpho

Eggs of the morpho butterfly, Morpho peleides. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, Cayó District, Belize.

Morpho peleides

Eggs of the morpho butterfly, Morpho peleides. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, Cayó District, Belize.

Morpho peleides

Eggs of the morpho butterfly, Morpho peleides. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, Cayó District, Belize.

Protographium marcellus

Zebra Swallowtail specimen in the University of Texas insect collection.

Papilio glaucus - Eastern Tiger Swallowtail feeding from bergamot in an Illinois prairie. Urbana, Illinois, USA

Danaus gilippus

A queen caterpillar feeds on tropical milkweed. Austin, Texas, USA.

Danaus gilippus

A queen caterpillar feeds on tropical milkweed. Austin, Texas, USA.

Isabella's longwing Eueides isabella. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, Cayo District, Belize

Papilio glaucus - Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Urbana, Illinois, USA

Battus philenor - Pipevine Swallowtail, pupa. Tucson, Arizona, USA

The owl butterfly Caligo uranus is named for its striking eyespots. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, Cayo District, Belize

Hamadryas februa

A variable cracker butterfly resting in characteristic head-down position. These are named for the sharp snapping sound they make during flight. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, Belize.

Eggs of a Caligo owl butterfly. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, Belize

Larva of a Caligo owl butterfly. Misahuallí, Napo, Ecuador

Larva of a Caligo owl butterfly. Misahuallí, Napo, Ecuador

Caligo caterpillars on a banana leaf. Misahuallí, Napo, Ecuador

Chrysalids of Caligo owl butterflies in lateral and ventral view. Misahuallí, Napo, Ecuador

Caligo

An adult owl butterfly. Misahuallí, Napo, Ecuador

Atlides halesus

The great purple hairstreak is one of North America's largest and most colorful hairstreaks. Austin, Texas, USA.

Atlides halesus

A great purple hairstreak takes a sip of Rudbeckia nectar. Austin, Texas, USA.

A Formica francoeuri field ant worker tending to the larva of a Great Copper butterfly (Lycaena xanthoides). The caterpillar produces secretions attractive to ants, and in turn the ants protect the caterpillar from predators and parasites. San Diego Co., California, USA