Unique Insects

I didn’t actively search for insects on this trip, but as in any rainforest you can’t help but notice some unique ones! Here’s three:

¡Pura Vida!

Golden Orb Spider

She was in my garden today and the first time I have ever seen a web by one of these Golden Orb Spiders that was actually gold in color, though hard to see in the photo. I assume that is how they got their name, but most of the webs I’ve seen in the past with them looked no different from other spider webs, dirty white. Nice to see a “golden” one!   🙂

“The spider’s web: She finds an innocuous corner in which to spin her web. The longer the web takes, the more fabulous its construction. She has no need to chase. She sits quietly, her patience a consummate force; she waits for her prey to come to her on their own, and then she ensnares them, injects them with venom, rendering them unable to escape. Spiders – so needed and yet so misunderstood.”
― Donna Lynn Hope

Check out my More Insects CR (65+ species) for more interesting bugs in Costa Rica!  🙂

¡Pura Vida!

More Corcovado Wildlife

Jewel bug or Metallic shield bug (Scutelleridae) 
 Los Patos Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Central American Spider Monkey 
 Los Patos Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Unknown Insect
 
Los Patos Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Red-tailed Squirrel
 
Los Patos Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Isabella Tiger Butterfly
 
Los Patos Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Ant Bridge 
They create a bridge of ant bodies for others to walk over.
 Los Patos Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Golden Orb Spider
 
Los Patos Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Active Termite Nest
 
Los Patos Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
I have already done a post of other non-bird animals seen on the Night Hike (better photos!). And of course you can see all of them together in my TRIP Gallery: 2018 March – Danta Corcovado.

¡Pura Vida!

A Butterfly’s Demise – Spider Web

I was walking up the hill to 214 to get my dinner from Chef Dan,
At this driveway entrance (101) a German family was photographing
something! I stopped and saw a cobweb stretched over the red plants.
I pulled out my cellphone and opened the camera.
Atenas, Costa Rica

 

A butterfly had flown into a Golden Orb Spider Web and was already being eaten
by the Golden Orb Spider. “The law of the jungle!” or “The food chain!”
Atenas, Costa Rica

 

Another Golden Orb Spider waited nearby.
Will he eat the leftovers? Or do they share?
Atenas, Costa Rica

Doesn’t this remind you of the giant spiders in the Forbidden Forest of the Harry Potter books?  🙂

Related photo galleries:

Butterflies & Moths       and         Other Insects
 

This was yesterday afternoon’s experience. This morning yielded another photo op which I am saving for tomorrow’s post. Never a dull moment in the Costa Rica Rainforests!       ¡Pura Vida!      🙂

¡Hasta mañana!

Butterflies & Other Insects at Manzanillo

Grasshopper (1 of 11,000+ species)
Manzanillo, Costa Rica

 

Golden Orb Spider
Manzanillo, Costa Rica

 

Whitened Bluewing Butterfly
Restaurant Selva Tropical Butterfly Garden, Guapiles, Costa Rica
On the highway to the Caribe

 

Common Mytip Butterfly
Manzanillo, Costa Rica

 

 

Green Page Moth
Manzanillo, Costa Rica

 

Isabella’s Tiger Longwing or Heliconianf Butterfly
Manzanillo, Costa Rica

 

Sara Longwing Butterfly
Restaurant Selva Tropical Butterfly Garden, Guapiles, Costa Rica
On the highway to the Caribe

 

Helcale Longwing or Heart-spotted Helconian
Manzanillo, Costa Rica

 

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
Restaurant Selva Tropical Garden, Guapiles, Costa Rica
On the highway to the Caribe

 

Almond Eyes Owl-butterfly
Restaurant Selva Tropical Butterfly Garden, Guapiles, Costa Rica
On the highway to the Caribe

 

Emerald Patches Cattleheart Butterfly
Manzanillo, Costa Rica

 

Blue Morpho Butterfly
Restaurant Selva Tropical Butterfly Garden, Guapiles, Costa Rica
On the highway to the Caribe

 

Giant Skipper Butterfly
Restaurant Selva Tropical Butterfly Garden, Guapiles, Costa Rica
On the highway to the Caribe

See my BUTTERFLY PHOTO GALLERY
and/or
See my OTHER INSECTS PHOTO GALLERY

My collections are growing! The adventure never ends!

Other Animals on this Nicaragua Trip

Raccoon
Juan Venado Wildlife Refuge, Nicaragua

Mexican Porcupine
Juan Venado Wildlife Refuge, Nicaragua

Green Iguana
Juan Venado Wildlife Refuge, Nicaragua

Golden Orb Spider
Juan Venado Wildlife Refuge, Nicaragua

Paper Wasp Nest
Juan Venado Wildlife Refuge, Nicaragua
Monarch Butterfly
Lost Canyon Nature Preserve, Nicaragua

Gray Cracker Butterfly
Lost Canyon Nature Preserve, Nicaragua

Adelpha Iphiclus Butterfly
Lost Canyon Nature Preserve, Nicaragua

Well, I’m not posting as often and haven’t even finished telling about my second trip to Nicaragua! Just been too busy and too tired late at night. I’ve also spent a lot of time trying to all my paperwork correct, in Spanish, for the Caja application interview tomorrow. Actually, I’m on standby for a no-show or vacant time slot tomorrow with my firm appointment the following Friday, the 15th. Be glad to get that behind me. And to be insured again!

And don’t miss my Nicaragua Birds photo gallery for 98 different species!

And remember that both my trips to Nicaragua were provided by Tours Nicaragua!  Check out what they offer! I’m happy with them!

Other INSECTS at Monteverde

Golden Orb Spider

Monteverde Butterfly Garden, Costa Rica

 

Unknown Insect

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica
At the entrance buildings

 

Walking-Leaf Katydid

Monteverde Butterfly Garden, Costa Rica

 

Walking-Stick Insect

Monteverde Butterfly Garden, Costa Rica

 

Unknown Insect

Monteverde Butterfly Garden, Costa Rica

 

Leaf Cutter Ants

Monteverde Butterfly Garden, Costa Rica

 

Butterfly Caterpillars in the Rainforest

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Monteverde, Costa Rica

There were of course many more insects seen and not photographed. Costa Rica has one of the largest selection of insect species in the world, more than all of the U.S. and Canada combined and yet it is the size of the state of West Virginia.

My Other Insects of Costa Rica  PHOTO GALLERY     OR   Costa Rica Butterflies

And I just finished the Monteverde Birding Club Trip 2016 TRIP PHOTO GALLERY

If we were to wipe out insects alone on this planet, the rest of life and humanity with it would mostly disappear from the land. Within a few months.    ~E. O. Wilson
Land of Great Species Diversity