In 1913-1914 the University of Pennsylvania offered free public lectures given by members of their faculty. In this lecture series Dr. Philip P. Calvert talked about his and his wife’s expedition to Costa Rica in 1909-1910. They traveled to Costa Rica to study tropical dragonflies but also to study and record the natural history of the land before it was changed completely by the building of the Panama Canal. Their book A Year of Costa Rican Natural History which presents their research and findings was published in 1917. Philip P. Calvert said it best in his introduction in the book, “The naturalists may regret some of them [changes] but he may at least leave for the future a picture of what the past contained.” In this finding aid’s historical note I will be reviewing the lecture that he presented at the University of Pennsylvania and give a brief summary of the work by an extraordinary scientist and his equally talented wife.

In the years leading up to building of the Panama Canal there was great political and commercial interest surrounding Central America. The idea of inter-ocean canals excited everyone especially biologists. Biologists came to Central America to study the unique ecological and biological ecosystems. From 1868-1872 Thomas Belt lived and researched the ecosystems of Nicaragua. He published his work,Natural History of Nicaragua for which Darwin said, "It appears to me the best of all natural history journals which have ever been published (Calvert,A Naturalist in Costa Rica, 1915)."

Costa Rica is one of six republics of Central America. It has an ocean on either side. Above Costa Rica is Nicaragua and to the south is Panama. It has an altitude of 12,000 feet and has an area of 23,000 square miles.

In 1909 Philip P. Calvert and Amelia S. Calvert set sail for Costa Rica with their primary focus to study tropical dragonflies and study Costa Rica’s natural environment. Traveling in Costa Rica was not easy. The Calvert’s were able to take trains from Limon (Atlantic seaport) past the mountains and into the lowlands, once there they had to travel either on foot or horseback. In the mountains there were more evergreens but in the lowlands there was a great biodiversity of flora and fauna. Philip Calvert goes into great detail regarding the explosion of color in the lowlands; red and orange flowers and even brighter butterflies. Bright-hued humming birds darted everywhere and the new species of insects were so many that he did not know where to begin. Calvert said, “It was my first experience in a truly tropical forest and although we had many opportunities to visit similar scenes later, that day’s excursion still seems, as I recall it; like a peep into some mysterious fairyland (Calvert, 1915).”

While traveling on the railroad Calvert was in Peralta, at about 1,100 feet elevation when he saw his first monkey, armadillo, basilisk, toucan and other interesting creatures. But it was not the unusual animals or birds that the Calverts were looking for but for a very common plant, known as a bromeliad, that produces a fruit similar to a pineapple that was said to attract dragonflies and other insects; such as cockroaches, earwigs, and katydid-like insects that find shelter in its leaves. “In October, 1909, we were gladdened by the discovery of undoubted dragonfly larvae, in a bromeliad below Juan Vinas, which we carried carefully to Cartago and placed in jars, each containing a little water and a small bromeliad (Calvert, 1915).” The Calverts fed them bloodworms but sadly the first batch did not live. The second batch which they found in December did live and in early April transformed into winged insects. The Calverts photographed their charges and recorded the data [found in Notebook - insect specimen data]. Philip Calvert knew where to look because of a letter written by Mr. F. Knab. In that letter Mr. Knab of the United States National Museum mentions where to look to find the dragonflies. Also Mr. Knab mentions how to raise the dragonflies based on the suggestion of Mr. O.W. Barrett (1900) . That led the Calverts to search the leaf bases of the bromeliads where water collects (Calvert, 1915). The dragon-fly larvae feed upon the mosquito larvae.

Moving away from the bromeliads and to the waterfalls and streams of Costa Rica is where you can find the Thaumatoneura [waterfall] dragonflies (Calvert, 1915). They lay their eggs in the roots and stems of plants which are constantly bathed in water. These dragonflies were first discovered by Mr. Robert McLachlan, F.R.S. of London in 1897. He purchaed a specimen at a sale and went to work identifying them. In 1903 Mr. C.F. Underwood collected two species at Carrillo, in Costa Rica and they eventually came into the possession of Dr. F. D. Godman of London and were included in the volume of the Biologia Centrali-Americana.

In June the Calverts found the Thaumatoneura larvae and as usual tried to take them to Cartago. The larvae didn’t make it. Of course that did not dissuade the Calverts they just kept on hunting. Hunting for Thaumatoneura proved to be very physical and dangerous. They would go climbing over the rocks and from time to time there would be a rock slide. The Calverts were not injured.

While hunting for the Thaumatoneura dragonflies they came across Harlequin beetles that were attracted to the “eye of the bull” or "Mucuna" (Calvert, 1915). The "eye of the bull" is a vine with large black seeds in its six-inch pods.

In addition to dragonflies they also found Hercules beetles, Apterostigma and Pseudomyrmaants ants (Calvert, 1915).

With Amelia by his side photographing their journey and researching the ecosystems, they did not always stay in the tropical forest. They ventured into the towns and villages. Amelia photographed the people, their customs, and their habitats. The Calverts made many friends and enjoyed their trip not only for the biological discoveries but for the friendships they made as well.

On April 13, 1910 the first of the earthquakes hit Costa Rica. Philip Calvert was near Turrúcares and Mrs. Calvert was at Cartago. Over the next three weeks 185 earthquakes were recorded. The Calverts decided to stay on. As each day passed (with an earthquake) the intensity seemed to lessen. But on May 4th at 6:50pm the worst earthquake came and they were forced to escape their hotel. The town of Cartago was destroyed. Realizing that it was too dangerous to stay they set out by train on May 6th to Limon where they could sail for New York.

In 1961 The Academy received from Philip Calvert his eight field notebooks, his itinerary, two diaries and a series of photographs that were used to create A Year of Costa Rican Natural History. They are available for research and contain a wealth of research about a land that was changed for commerce.