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COSTA RICA ​INSECTS


​In January of 2014, we visited Costa Rica.  The first week, we stayed at a grand villa on the Pacific Coast. The Villa Mayana was luxurious — both lodge and grounds — but the best thing about it was the incredible insects on the grounds and in the villa's rainforest. An added advantage was, unlike in rainforests, there was a a lot of light to take pictures. ​As you will see in the photos I took below, "incredible" is an understatement!  Some of these insects were found in the gardens, some on the walls of the villa, some on the balconies, some a gift from the villa gardener, a few in the villa's rainforest or villa plantation. 
​Click on a photo to make it larger.
Villa Mayana view, Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica
The view of the Pacific Coast from the grounds of The Villa Mayana
Thorn Bugs (Umbonia crassicornis) Costa Rica
Thorn Bug adult females and nymphs --Treehoppers (Umbonia crassicornis)
Thorn Bug Exoskeleton (Umbonia crassicornis) Costa Rica
Exoskeleton of a Thorn Bug nymph
Hooded Mantis (Choeradodis), Costa Rica
Well-camouflaged Hooded Mantis (Choeradodis), top view
Hooded Mantis (Choeradodis), Costa Rica
Hooded Mantis (Choeradodis), looking like a space alien
Hooded Mantis (Choeradodis), Costa Rica
Hooded Mantis (Choeradodis) planning its flight
Frangipani Hawkmoth (Pseudosphinx tetrio), Costa Rica
Frangipani Hawkmoth (Pseudosphinx tetrio)
Planthopper nymph, Costa Rica
Tiny Planthopper nymph
Mantid (Pseudacanthops caelebs), Costa Rica
Mantid (Pseudacanthops caelebs?) succeeding in looking like a dead leaf
Mantid (Pseudacanthops caelebs) Costa Rica
Mantid (Pseudacanthops caelebs?)
Giant Grasshopper (Tropidacris cristata), Costa Rica
Giant Grasshopper (Tropidacris cristata)
Giant Grasshopper (Tropidacris cristata), Costa Rica
A Giant Grasshopper, about 5 inches long
Tortoise Beetle (Charidotella), Costa Rica
Tortoise Beetle (Charidotella?)
Giant Helmeted Katydid (Phyllophorella woodfordi), Costa Rica
Giant Helmeted Katydid (Phyllophorella woodfordi?) on a balcony plant.
Mantid, Costa Rica
Do you see the Mantid on the plant? Click on the photo for better viewing.
Bark Mantis (Liturgusa annulipes), Costa Rica
Bark Mantis (Liturgusa annulipes)
Stick Insect, Phassmatodea, Costa Rica
Stick Insect, Phassmatodea -- not a twig
Treehopper (Membracis dorsata)
Treehopper (Membracis dorsata)
Wax-tailed Planthoppers (Pterodictya reticularis)
The villa gardener, Nelson Piedra Fallas, showed us these Wax-tailed Planthoppers (Pterodictya reticularis) at the top of a tall tree in the garden. They produce long wax plumes so that predators will get a mouthful of wax instead of a juicy planthopper!
Shield Bug
This beautiful Shield Bug looks like it is made out of green and maroon leather.
Weevil (Cholis cinctus)
This Weevil (Cholis cinctus) tucks its snout under its body when not searching for food.
Weevil (Cholis cinctus)
Weevil (Cholis cinctus)
Twig Girdler Beetle (Ecthoea quadricornis)
Twig Girdler Beetle (Ecthoea quadricornis). A Twig Girdler cuts a girdle around a branch into which she lays her eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae and feed on the dead branch.
Twig Girdler Beetle (Ecthoea quadricornis)
Notice the way the antennae of the Twig Girdler Beetle fit into grooves on its back. This anatomical feature enhances its already amazing camouflage to make it look even more like a piece of wood.
Hardwood Stump Borer (Mallodon dasystomus)
You can see how large this Hardwood Stump Borer (Mallodon dasystomus) is by comparing it to my husband Ron's hand.
Long-horned Beetle (Callipogon?)
Gorgeous (not a scientific term) Long-horned Beetle (Callipogon?)
Hewitson's Longwing Butterfly (Heliconius hewitsonii)
Hewitson's Longwing Butterfly (Heliconius hewitsonii)
White-barred Emerald (Nemoria)
White-barred Emerald (Nemoria) resting on the Villa wall at night
Tiger-striped Longwing (Heliconius ismenius clarescens)
Tiger-striped Longwing (Heliconius ismenius clarescens)
Tiger-striped Longwing (Heliconius ismenius clarescens)
This very large Eumorpha phorbas Moth, with a wingspan of about 4-1/2 inches, visited us on our balcony at the Villa at night.
Tiger-striped Longwing (Heliconius ismenius clarescens)
Tiger Spider (Argiope savignyi)
Tiger Spider (Argiope savignyi) female. Notice the spider web!
Tiger Spider (Argiope savignyi)
Another Tiger Spider female. Compare her web to the one above.
Golden 0rb-weaver (Nephila clavipes)
Golden 0rb-weaver (Nephila clavipes), dorsal view. These spiders are large, with bodies typically 1.5 to 2 inches long.
Golden 0rb-weaver (Nephila clavipes)
Golden 0rb-weaver (Nephila clavipes), ventral view. Notice spinneret, low on the abdomen.
All photographs on amazingnature-nancygoor..com are copyrighted. 
​If you wish to use or purchase any photographs, please contact Nancy or Ron Goor at ron.nancygoor@gmail.com.
  • Home
  • About
  • Birds
  • INSECTS
    • Costa Rica Insects
    • Texas Insects
    • Insect Defense >
      • Camouflage
      • Warning Colors
      • Mimicry
      • Eyespots
      • Posture Reversal
      • Poisonous Caterpillars
      • Insect Defense is Not Perfect
    • INSECT METAMORPHOSIS: COMPLETE
    • INSECT METAMORPHOSIS: INCOMPLETE
  • Land, Sea, & Sky
  • Contact
  • TOTALLY COOL!
    • BEETLES
    • MOTHS