Rainforest insects

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Most of the animal species found in the rainforest are invertebrates, including insects, arachnids (such as spiders and scorpions), and worms. Amazingly, about one quarter of all animal species that have been named and described by scientists are beetles. More than 500,000 kinds of beetles are known to exist, many of them from the world’s rainforests.

Rainforest invertebrates come in an incredible array of sizes, ranging from organisms that can sit on a pinhead to the goliath beetle of Africa, which can weigh nearly a quarter of a pound (110 grams). Some Bornean stick insects—which are experts in disguise—can attain a length of more than 20 inches (50cm).

Below you will find some photos of rainforest insects. Please note there is more extensive information about rainforest insects, including specific species, at the main rainforest site.

PHOTOS OF RAINFOREST INSECTS
Moth on the underside of a leaf caught by the sun (Costa Rica) Multicolored leafhopper insect (Costa Rica) Blue, yellow, and orange insect (Costa Rica) Yellow and black swallowtail butterfly (Costa Rica) Sleeping blue morpho butterfly (Costa Rica) Giant brown Long-horned Beetle (Callipogon lemoinei) (family Cerambycidae, subfamily Prioninae) with off-white markings (Costa Rica) Transparent moth (Costa Rica) Orange; yellow; and black butterfly (Costa Rica) Elongated blue and orange insect (Malaysia) Spotted tiger beetle (Cicindela aurulenta) (Malaysia) Red; orange; white; black (Malaysia) Orange and black insect (planthopper?) (Suriname) Leaf-mimicking praying mantis (Suriname) Leaf-mimicking praying mantis (Suriname) Hot pink and turquoise insect (Suriname) Leaf-mimicking insect (Suriname)		Blue-eyed dragonfly (Brazil) Fury white planthopper (Brazil) Turquoise-headed black flying insect (Brazil) Red-eyed dragonfly (Brazil) Red-eyed dragonfly (Brazil) Red insect Red; black; and white butterfly Transparent butterfly of the Nymphalidae family (Subfamily Satyrinae) Black; blue; and orange butterfly in Colombia Poisonous caterpillar displaying its neon green but venemous spines Black; orange; and light blue butterfly on a Heliconia leaf Blue and green butterfly (Gabon) Brachydiplax dragonfly on blade of grass (Indonesia) Yellow-; green-; and orange-spotted butterfly in leaf litter (Indonesia) Red grasshawk dragonfly Blue-eyed butterfly (Indonesia) Postman butterfly, Heliconius erato or melpomene (blue form) (Brazil)		Leaf insect Moth Leaf-mimicking treehopper Orange and blue planthopper A katydid in Malaysia with a red head; black body; yellow winds; and black and yellow legs (Malaysia) Close up on leaf insect (Malaysia) Colorful butterflies feeding on minerals on a river beach (Malaysia) Metallic green; yellow; and copper colored beetle (Malaysia) Black caterpillar with off-white stripes; yellow spines; and orange antenna (pan01-0777) Iguazu Butterflies; Brazil Grasshopper; Honduras Moth; Honduras Moth; Honduras Owl butterfly (Caligo idomeneus) (Peru) Swarms of lake flies in a garden near Lake Victoria (Uganda) Black and yellow butterfly (Uganda)

PROFILES

Archduke Butterfly Beetles Butterflies Clear-Winged Butterfly

Dragonfly Dung Beetle Owl Butterfly Pill Millipede Praying Mantis