Rainforest
Guides
Amblycorypha
Round-headed Katydids, False Katydids, Bush-crickets
Amblycorypha is a genus of North American round-headed katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, containing approximately 14 described species. These insects are renowned for their exceptional leaf-mimicry, with wing venation closely matching the vein patterns of leaves. They are known for their acoustic communication, with males producing songs via stridulation to attract females. Some species reach prodigious sizes in tropical regions, and males provide nuptial gifts to females during mating.
Arawacus
stripe-streaks, stripestreaks
Arawacus is a genus of gossamer-wing butterflies in the family Lycaenidae, commonly known as stripe-streaks. The genus contains approximately 17 described species distributed throughout the Neotropical realm, from Mexico south through Central America to Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. Members of this genus are notable for their distinctive false-head defensive morphology on the hindwings, which helps misdirect predator attacks away from vital body parts.
Ascalapha odorata
black witch, black witch moth, mariposa de la muerte, duppy bat, mariposa-bruxa, ura, money moth, money bat
The black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata) is a large, bat-shaped nocturnal moth and the largest noctuoid in the continental United States. Females reach wingspans up to 24 cm, while males are smaller at approximately 12 cm. The species ranges from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to Brazil and Argentina, with migratory populations reaching as far north as Canada. It holds prominent cultural significance across Latin America and the Caribbean, where it is widely associated with death, misfortune, and spiritual beliefs.
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Bakerella is a genus of sixteen mistletoe species native to Madagascar and the Mascarenes. These hemiparasitic plants grow on host trees and produce showy flowers. They serve as an important food source for lemurs in parts of Madagascar. Research on Bakerella gonoclada demonstrates that lemur gut passage significantly enhances seed germination success, speed, and seedling survival compared to hand-removed seeds, indicating a mutualistic relationship between the plant and its lemur dispersers.
Leptogenys
Razorjaw Ants
Leptogenys is the most diverse genus in the ant subfamily Ponerinae, with over 260 described species distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The genus exhibits remarkable morphological and behavioral diversity, ranging from large-eyed epigaeic species that forage above ground to small-eyed cryptobiotic species inhabiting soil and leaf litter. Many species possess distinctive falcate, bowed mandibles and specialize on isopod prey. Most species have ergatoid (worker-like) queens rather than typical winged queens.
Lycorea halia
Tropical Milkweed Butterfly, Tiger Mimic-Queen
Lycorea halia is a nymphalid butterfly in the Danainae subfamily, found from Peru through Central America to the Caribbean and Mexico, with occasional strays reaching Texas. It inhabits rainforest environments and has a wingspan of 95–108 mm. The species exhibits aposematic coloration typical of milkweed butterflies and has been documented feeding on bird droppings as adults.
Melete lycimnia
common melwhite, primrose flag, lycimnia white flag
Melete lycimnia is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found from Texas to Bolivia. It inhabits lowland rainforests and exhibits considerable subspecific variation in coloration, ranging from white with narrow black borders to primrose yellow with wide brown borders. The species has been documented with numerous subspecies across Central and South America.
Microcentrini
angle-wing katydids, angle-winged katydids
Microcentrini is a tribe of katydids within the subfamily Phaneropterinae, commonly known as angle-winged katydids. The tribe comprises approximately 17 genera and 102 species with a Neotropical distribution, centered in the Amazon Rainforest. Members are characterized by their distinctive wing morphology, with expanded, often angular forewings. The tribe has been the subject of recent taxonomic revision, with numerous new genera and species described from Amazonian localities.
Morphini
Morphos and Allies
Morphini is a tribe of nymphalid butterflies within the subfamily Satyrinae, comprising two subtribes: Antirrheina and Morphina. The tribe includes the iconic genus Morpho, known for large butterflies with brilliant metallic blue dorsal wing surfaces, as well as the genera Antirrhea and Caerois. Members are primarily Neotropical in distribution. The group is characterized by substantial body size, with some Morpho species reaching wingspans of four to six inches.
Nothridae
Nothridae is a family of oribatid mites comprising at least 3 genera and approximately 70 described species. The family includes the genera Nothrus (semi-cosmopolitan), Novonothrus (Gondwanan distribution), and Trichonothrus (previously known only from South Africa, now recorded from Australia). Members are primarily associated with moist forest habitats, particularly cool temperate rainforests. Australian Nothridae show relict Gondwanan biogeographical affinities, with high diversity of sexual species in temperate rainforests contrasting with thelytokous parthenogenetic species in the Northern Hemisphere.
Pentodontini
rhinoceros beetles
Pentodontini is the most diverse tribe within the subfamily Dynastinae (rhinoceros beetles), containing over 100 genera distributed across multiple biogeographic regions. Most genera are restricted to a single biogeographic region. The tribe is characterized by substantial morphological diversity, with generic-level identification often relying on mouthpart morphology in females and secondary sexual characters (horns, claw modifications, antennal club length) in males.
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painted white, viardi white
Pieriballia is a monotypic genus of pierid butterflies erected by Alexander Barrett Klots in 1933. Its sole species, Pieriballia viardi, occurs from Mexico southward through Central and South America to Bolivia and Paraguay. The genus is characterized by moderate size, with wingspans around 57 mm, and association with rainforest and cloud forest habitats. Larval development has been documented on Capparis pseudocacao.
Pseudomorphini
false-form beetles
Pseudomorphini is a tribe of ground beetles (Carabidae) distinguished by their evolutionary divergence from typical carabid body plans. Members are known for obligate associations with ants, living within ant colonies. The tribe includes the recently described Guyanemorpha spectabilis from French Guiana, which exhibits exceptional size and coloration compared to the generally dull-colored Western Hemisphere species. Research on these beetles remains challenging due to their arboreal ant-nest habitats.
Saica
Saica is a genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae, subfamily Saicinae. These predatory insects inhabit tropical rainforest environments, particularly in the Neotropics. They are characterized by slender bodies, long legs, and distinctive raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. Some species display bright coloration, including brilliant red patterns. The genus is distinguished by a uniquely hooked proboscis tip, an adaptation for subduing prey.
Trichopterygini
Trichopterygini is a tribe of geometer moths in the subfamily Larentiinae. Australian members include three genera (Episteira, Tympanota, and Sauris) with 14 recognized species, eight of which were described as new in a 1980 revision. The tribe occurs in the Oriental Region, Pacific islands, and Australia, with a predominantly eastern and northern distribution on the Australian mainland. No species are known from Tasmania.