Amazon Insects

Over 90% of the animal species in the Amazon are insects. Whereas all of Europe has some 321 butterfly species, the Manu National Park in Peru (4000 hectare-survey) has 1300 species, while Tambopata National Park (5500 hectare-survey) has at least 1231 species . Around 25% of the world's 2 million described animals species are beetles (Coleoptera). The Longhorn Beetle (Titanus giganteus) can have a body length (not including antennae) of over 6.5 inches (16 cm), A single square mile of rainforest often houses more than 50,000 insect species Some scientists estimate that 30% of the animal biomass of the Amazon Basin is made up of ants. Pictures of Amazonian Insects and other Invertebrates:

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Owl butterfly (Caligo idomeneus) Rhetus periander butterfly Clear-winged Cithaerias pireta butterfly feeding on dung Colorful, but known grasshopper-like insect Black grasshopper with indigo blue eyes and yellow polkadots Unknown insect Ceiba borer beetle Biblis hyperia butterfly, brown to black with red on its wings Lycorea halia butterfly Owl butterfly Round black fury caterpillar Shitzu-like caterpillar, white and yellow fur Red-orange, black, white, and maroon caterpillar on underside of leaf Blue Morpho Butterfly Blue Morpho Blue Morpho Caterpillar Moth Praying Mantis Red, black, yellow, and white caterpillar Orange and yellow beetle with black spots Red insect Brown spider Rasberry dragonfly Green and brown grasshopper with yellow markings and a black head Green grasshopper Black, orange, and light blue butterfly on a Heliconia leaf Green and brown grasshopper with yellow markings and a black head Thin spider in the Amazon Green grasshopper Owl butterfly (Caligo idomeneus) Phoebis philea and Anteos menippe butterflies in large group feeding on minerals in mud Mass of caterpillars Small red and black beetle Heliconius sara butterfly Black moth with orange and green markings Multi-colored butterfly on a beach (unknown species) Iguazu Butterflies Katydid Grasshopper Blue Morpho Caterpillar Red, black, and white butterfly Clear-wing butterfly (Pseudohaeterea hypaesia) in Colombia Transparent butterfly of the Nymphalidae family (Subfamily Satyrinae) Nymphalidae transparent-winged butterfly in a Colombian cloud forest Wasps' nest Black, blue, and orange butterfly in Colombia Multicolored grasshopper Green spiny caterpillar Zig zag beetle Brown grasshopper Light green colored cricket Green katydid Brown walking stick Scorpion-spider (Solifugae order) Butterfly Dark green beetle with red spots Black butterfly with green spots and an orange mark Leaf-mimicking insect Turquoise shield bug with orange legs Blue-eyed butterfly Insect Red-orange beetle Hot pink and turquoise insect Leaf-mimicking praying mantis Leaf-mimicking praying mantis Leaf-mimicking praying mantis Ant Orange and black insect (planthopper?) Orange, yellow, and black butterfly Transparent moth Giant brown beetle with off-white markings Orange, black, and yellow butterfly Orange, black, and yellow butterfly Blue morpho with its wings closed Green insect with polka dots Multi-colored grasshoppers mating Wolf spider Rainforest spider Camouflaged praying mantis on tree trunk Giant walking stick insect with a person's hand for scale Tail-less whip scorpion (Amblypygid sp) Green, teal, blue, pruple, red, and black insect in Peru Turquoise fly with black wings and bright red eyes Unknown insect Giant stick insect Walking stick insects mating Small green, gold, and brown scorpion Red rainforest crab Caterpillar Butterflies Moth Butterfly in the Amazon rainforest canopy Giant black and red jungle tarantula Poisonous caterpillar displaying its neon green but venemous spines Pair of "rainbow" grasshoppers Orange, green, black, yellow, and turquoise grasshopper Colorful grasshopper Black, blue, and yellow butterfly Ants on a red-orange flower bud Brown butterfly on the forest floor Wasp in the Amazon rainforest

This article was written by Rhett A. Butler [citation]

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