EcuadorMegadiverso

With their raised wings and the eye-like pattern, metalmark moths look like jumping spiders, which prey on small insects, such as moths. Even their jerky leaps resemble that of a jumping spider. Apparently this gives them an advantage in the struggle for survival because jumping spiders mistake them as fellows and not recognize them as prey. This is a rare example of predator mimicry.

Leaf beetle, Platyphora sp., Chrysomelidae from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador

This cute and colorful little beetle looks this way because they are supposed to mimic caterpillar droppings, which gives them an advantage in the struggle for survival by protecting them from being eaten by birds. However, which caterpillar leaves shiny fuchsia and purple droppings?!

This beautiful nymph of a katydid was filmed in the upper Amazon rainforest of Ecuador while feeding on fresh leaves. Such dazzling colors!

This dung beetle with the scientific name Canthon luteicollis in the family Scarabaeidae was filmed in the upper Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. As the name indicates these beetles feed on feces of other animals. Ecuador is one of 17 megadiverse countries, it actually has the highest biodiversity per square kilometer of any nation, with over 1660 species of birds, some 4000 species of butterflies and thousands of colorful moths, more than 500 amphibians, as well as a unique flora with e.g. over 4300 species of orchids. More videos from Ecuador at https://rumble.com/user/EcuadorMegadiverso

This pretty Shag-carpet caterpillar was filmed near Rio Pastaza in the upper Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Its bright colors (aposematic coloration) warn potential predators that it is unpalatable or even toxic or has venomous spines.

These yellow treehopper nymphs and black and white adults were filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. They feed upon sugar containing sap of a plant. Treehoppers pierce the plant stems with their beaks and feed upon the juices. The young can frequently be found on herbaceous shrubs and grasses, while the adults more often frequent hardwood tree species. Yellow treehopper nymphs are typically gregarious and excrete a substance rich in sugar as excrement, also called honeydew. The excess sap concentrated with glycose naturally summons forest ants. The ants collect it and nourish upon the sugar and, in return, protect the treehoppers from predators. This is an example of mutualism, a form of symbiosis where both species benefit. The mutually beneficial cooperation between the treehopper and the forest floor ants basically levels down to the following: the nymphs provide a first supply of nourishment to the ants, and in turn, the ants physically act like bodyguards, protecting the nymphs from predators. Appart from the symbiotic relationship with ants and. in some cases <a href="https://rumble.com/v3pcrj-5-things-you-need-to-know-about-wasps-rare-animals.html" target="_blank">wasps</a>, the treehopper has another devious skill in its sleeve. In its adult stage, the treehopper develops outgrows on its body that mimics horns in order to prevent predators from spotting them. As it always goes in nature, the week species populating the bottom of the food chain, in order to survive must develop skills and cunning. The treehopper uses other species to mask its weakness: symbiosis with ants and wasps and colorful bodily <a href="https://rumble.com/v4590z-visual-mimicry-in-sphinx-moths.html" target="_blank">mimicry</a>. This is definitely one witty survivor!

This pretty fly was filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. It is feeding on bird droppings in company of a leaf beetle. The color pattern of its eyes is due to interference of light in thin filter layers on top of the hexagonal array of the numerous tiny ommatidia which make up these compound eyes. The purpose of this color pattern is still hypothetical, it may serve as signal in courtship, but it also affects color reception by the fly. The white knobs behind the wings are rapidly oscillating modified hindwings which serve as gyroscopes that provide information about the rotation of the body during flight, helping the fly to execute the most acrobatic maneuvers.

This pretty caterpillar was filmed near Puyo in the upper Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Its bright colors (aposematic coloration) warns potential predators that it is unpalatable or even toxic or has venomous spines. In addition it has fake eyes to deter predators. Unfortunately a parasitoid fly laid several eggs onto the caterpillar. Upon hatching the fly larva will burrow into its host and eat it from inside. Looks like those eyes can't scare off ALL predators! There are more than 3500 species of butterflies and some 10000 of moths in Ecuador and their larvae have evolved different strategies to escape predators. Some hide in the vegetation due to camouflage coloration, others resemble a stick or moss or mimic bird droppings.

This moss-mimicking katydid was filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. During the day they usually hide in moss to escape hungry predators. In addition, numerous spines make them less appetizing. The red spot on the back of this katydid is a parasitic mite. These nocturnal grasshoppers use their long antennae to feel, as well as smell, the environment around them.

This caterpillar was filmed near Puyo in the upper Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Its long hairs presumably give it an advantage in the struggle for survival since predators have a harder time to seize it.

These white treehopper nymphs, filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador, feed upon sugar containing sap of a plant. Excess sap is excreted as honeydew through an extensible tube (see video at 0:55) that prevents contact with the treehopper nymph, as otherwise it would promote fungal growth. The honeydew is collected by the ants that feed upon the sugar and, in return, protect the treehoppers from predators. This is an example of mutualism, a form of symbiosis where both species benefit.

Bugs may be nasty, but how can someone call a butterfly “nasty”? They are these delicate, frail creatures that are ever so graceful, making the world a better place with their iridescent existence. In this situation we have this little bug that is just relaxing on a top of a leaf. Now, we can all agree he looks kind of creepy and somewhat scary and a bit disgusting. But if for a moment we take a closer look we see that there is beauty in everything. This little insect has everything, starting from eyes, to a little mouth and even some <a href="https://rumble.com/v2zwb0-scary-glass-bridge-opens-in-china-2.html" target="_blank">scary</a> grapples on top of his head that probably help him hunt. This tree hopper from the Amazon rain forest of Ecuador is an <a href="https://rumble.com/v31g5q-mantis-insect-from-another-planet..html" target="_blank">insect</a> related to cicadas and leaf hoppers. Most tree hoppers have a highly modified pronotum on the back, in this case forming several hollow spines, which make it unpalatable for potential predators and thereby give it an advantage in the struggle for survival. Tree hoppers feed on plant sap which is rich in sugar. In this video the sucking mouth parts of the tree hopper have penetrated the vein of a leaf. In this case, this little guy looks like he is feeding for the last time. Since At the end of the video he is upside down leading us to believe that he has arrived to the end of his days. However, this close footage of its last moments are incredible. At the end of the day, would you dare to get this close to such creepy insect!

True Weevils, also called snout beetles, are one of the largest animal families with over 80,000 species described worldwide. They feed on plants with their long snout (rostrum), in many cases only living on a single species. Many weevils are damaging to crops, but others are used for biological control of invasive plants. This cute little fellow of the genus Ambates was filmed in the <a href="https://rumble.com/v46jqb-tiny-purple-beetle-from-the-amazon-rainforest-of-ecuador.html?mref=6zof&mrefc=54" target="_blank">Amazon rainforest of Ecuador</a> while cleaning its long geniculate antennae. A weevil is a type of beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. They are usually small, less than 0.24 inches, and herbivorous. Over 60,000 species are in several families, mostly in the family Curculionidae, also called “the true weevils”. Some other beetles, although not closely related, bear the name "weevil", such as the biscuit weevil, which belongs to the family Anobiidae. Many weevils are considered pests because of their ability to damage and kill crops, but others are used for biological control of invasive plants. The grain or wheat weevil damages stored grain, while the boll weevil attacks cotton crops by laying its eggs inside cotton bolls, and the larvae eat their way out. The rice weevil, on the other hand, has the ability to fly. This weevil’s favorite snack is the Aloe plant. Adult snout beetles will leave unsightly marks on the aloe leaves, but it is the chubby, C shaped larvae that are the culprits. Snout beetles lay their eggs at the base of the aloe leaves, the larvae bore into the stem just below the crown of the plant which may cause the entire plant to die.

This Tachinid Fly was filmed while grooming itself near Rio Pastaza in the rainforest of Ecuador. Tachinid or Bristle Flies (Tachinidae) are a large family of parasitoid flies. The larvae (maggots) develop inside a living host, such as caterpillars of butterflies and moths, beetles and other insects, and ultimately kill it. Adult Tachinids are not parasitic, but either do not feed at all or live on flower nectar, decaying matter, or other sources of energy. Many species feed on pollen and can be important pollinators of plants. Some tachinid flies are used as biological control agents by farmers.

These predatory rove beetles (Leistotrophus versicolor, Staphylinidae) imitate dung or bird droppings to attract prey, namely flies. Moreover with glands in the tip of the abdomen they produce an odorous secretion that attracts flies. The species is called transvestite rove beetle because small males pretend to be females in order to fool the larger males and sneakily copulate with the females and eat flies. This footing from the tropical rainforest of Ecuador shows the courtship behavior with waving of the colored abdomen tip.

This cute little Jumping spider, family Salticidae was filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. They do not build a web to trap insects, but jump on their prey and grab it with the jaws. They still produce silk for safety lines while jumping and also to build a tent as shelter from bad weather and to sleep at night. As most spiders they have four pairs of eyes, which give them a 360-degree view of the world. Their large frontal eyes are build like telescopes and provide them with very sharp vision. A mobile retina allows them to scan the object they are looking at.

This spiny orb-weaver (scientific name Micrathena kirbyi in the family Araneidae) was filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador in the process of building its web. They are common along the trails in the forest and you have to carry a stick in front of you in order to avoid running into their webs, although these spiders are completely harmless to humans. The bright yellow color warns potential predators such as birds that eight spines on the abdomen make them difficult to swallow!

Jumping spiders do not build a web to trap insects, but jump on their prey and grab it with the jaws. This little fellow from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador was filmed shortly after it had caught a fly. Jumping spiders still produce silk for safety lines while jumping and also to build a tent as shelter from bad weather and to sleep at night. As most spiders they have four pairs of eyes, which give them a 360-degree view of the world. Their large frontal eyes are build like telescopes and provide them with very sharp vision. A mobile retina allows them to scan the object they are looking at.

This cute and colorful little beetle was filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. It is about 6 mm in length and belongs to the genus Chlamisus or Fulcidax in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae. These warty beetles are supposed to mimic caterpillar droppings, which gives them an advantage in the struggle for survival by protecting them from being eaten by birds. So cool!

The Flower Crab Spider (Family Thomisidae) does not build webs to catch their prey. Instead, they are ambush predators. They usually sit motionless on flowers and grab visiting insects such as bees, flies or butterflies with their crab-like front legs. Some species can even change color to match the flower they are on! But this species, with the scientific name Epicadus heterogaster from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador, can be found on green leaves and mimics itself a flower by reflecting ultraviolet (UV) light, just as flowers do, in order to attract pollinating insects. Even its movements are jerky, like a flower swaying in the wind. It produces silk for safety lines, but in this video it gets somewhat entangled into its own silk. As most spiders it has four pairs of eyes.

Lonomia obliqua (or Giant Silkworm Moth) is a species of Saturniid moths from South America. It is famous for its larval form, rather than the adult moth, primarily because of the caterpillar's defense mechanism, articulating bristles that inject a potentially deadly venom. Its venom has also been the subject of numerous medical studies. This is a video of a caterpillar of a Saturniid Moth filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador showing us it’s unique defense mechanism. Its body is covered with venomous spines for self-defense. The adult <a href="https://rumble.com/v484hn-colorful-caterpillar-of-a-lappet-moth-from-ecuador.html" target="_blank">moth</a> is covered in long fur in colors ranging from dull orange to lemon yellow, with hairy legs and fuzzy black feet. The caterpillar has these brightly colored (aposematic coloration) to warn potential predators that it is unpalatable.Exposure to the caterpillar's fur-like spines will lead to an immediate skin irritation characterized by a grid-like hemorrhagic papular eruption with severe radiating pain.The caterpillar is one bad insect you don’t want to mess with! Want to hear another fun fact? The Amazon Rainforest, also known as the Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is the largest rainforest on earth and is home to 427 mammals (e.g. the jaguar,sloth, andriver dolphin), 1,300 birds (like the macaw), 378 reptiles (e.g.anacondaor theJesus lizard), and more than 400 amphibians (e.g.glass frogandpoison dart frog). It covers 40% of the South American continent. Amazing day to learn new stuff about the Amazon <a href="https://rumble.com/v3eqmh-amazing-animals-of-the-rainforest.html" target="_blank">Rainforest</a>!

This handsome and colorful Millipede was filmed in the upper Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Millipedes do not actually have "thousand feet", nevertheless this one has about 160 and others may have up to 750 legs. Millipedes are harmless detritivores, feeding on dead plants, and have two pairs of legs on most body segments. By contrast the carnivorous centipedes can inflict painful, poisonous bites and have only a single pair of legs per segment. When threatened millipedes curl up into a spiral to protect their soft and vulnerable underside. Fossil evidence suggests that millipedes belonged to the first animals to live on land. See more amazing videos from Ecuador at https://rumble.com/user/EcuadorMegadiverso

This little Jumping Spider (family Salticidae) was filmed in Mindo, Ecuador as it killed an Assassin bug (family Reduviidae) much bigger than itself. These predatory bugs use their long rostrum to inject a lethal saliva into other insects or spiders that liquefies the insides of the prey, which are then sucked out. But in this case the Assassin bug became itself assassinated by a Jumping Spider which jumped on its back, paralyzed it by a bite into its neck and later sucked it out. See more videos of Jumping spiders and other amazing creatures from Ecuador at https://rumble.com/user/EcuadorMegadiverso

A bizarre video of an owl butterfly chrysalis mimicking its head in a snake manner has us confused and perplexed. This chrysalis of the Daring Owl-Butterfly, filmed in the Jardin Eco-botanico Mindo, Ecuador, mimics the head of a snake which gives it an advantage in the struggle for survival by scaring off predators such as birds. It has fake eyes, a fake mouth, fake scales and even strikes like a snake if disturbed! Researchers claim that butterflies and moths mimic snakes and foxes to fool predators. The dazzling colours and patterns on their wings make butterflies and moths some of the most eye catching creatures in the animal kingdom, but these dramatic designs also help turn the insects into master illusionists capable of <a href="https://rumble.com/v311ab-snake-caterpillar-from-ecuador.html" target="_blank">fooling potential predators</a>. Many species of butterfly and moth are capable of using their wing patterns to trick predators into thinking they are much larger and even more dangerous animals. This butterfly species has patterns on its wings that when viewed from the right angle take on the <a href="https://rumble.com/v31hvv-snake-caterpillar.html" target="_blank">appearance of a snake's head</a>. When disturbed, it writhes its head and body to complete the illusion. Amazing! The evolution has shaped butterflies and moths' wing patterns in a way that allows them to exploit their predators' eyesight and play with their sense of perspective. Footage shows owl butterfly chrysalis being pet by the head by human’s finger. It is interesting how the moment the finger touches its head, it instinctively writhes its head up, to mimic a snake movement! Not only it mimics its appearance, it can also mimic its behavior too. Incredible!