EcuadorMegadiverso

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.

This little weevil from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador mimics a flesh fly, which protects it from predators such as birds that do not waste time trying to catch what seems to be such a swift prey. Smart!

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.

These stingless bees are tending two treehoppers in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Treehoppers feed upon sugar containing sap of the plant. Excess sap is excreted as honeydew which is more commonly collected by ants. The ants, or in this case bees, 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. The treehopper mother on the right hand side is guarding her froth-covered egg mass and receives special attention from the bees. At 1:30 of the video the bees even ventilate mother and eggs with their wings, presumably to avoid that they overheat in the sun. Amazing!

This is a treehopper from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Treehoppers are insects related to cicadas and leafhoppers. Most treehoppers have a highly modified pronotum on the back. They feed on plant sap which is rich in sugar. Cool!

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

This larva of a Lady Beetle, Coccinellidae, Azyini or Coccidulini? was filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. The coating of white tufts consists of waxy secretions that presumably protect the larva from predators by making it difficult to seize or just unpalatable.

This treehopper nymph from the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest mimics a leaf to escape the attention of hungry predators. Incredible!

These pretty caterpillars were filmed in the upper Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Their bright colors (aposematic coloration) warn potential predators that they are unpalatable and have venomous spines. Check it out!

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 little Weevil from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador is about 5 mm in size and mimics a Flesh Fly, which protects it from predators such as birds because they do not waste time trying to catch what seems to be such swift prey. As shown in this video, these Weevils communicate with their partners by drumming with the snout on a leaf. When two weevils reside on the same leaf they alternate in drumming. Vibrational communication is known from other insects, such as Treehoppers.

The jumping spiders of the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador 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 in. 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 Ensign Wasps, in the family Evaniidae, was filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. The black abdomen (metasoma) moves up and down as if signalling with a flag, which gave rise to the common name ensign wasp. They are completely harmless to humans and actually are beneficial since they lay an egg in the egg cases of cockroaches and the hatched wasp larva feeds on the roach eggs.

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.

These are Treehoppers with the scientific name Membracis foliata c-album from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Treehoppers, family Membracidae are insects related to cicadas and leafhoppers. Most treehoppers have a highly modified pronotum on the back. Treehoppers feed on plant sap which is rich in sugar.

This treehopper from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador is called Cyphonia clavata in the family Membracidae and measures only 6 mm in length. Treehoppers are insects related to cicadas and leafhoppers. Most treehoppers have a highly modified pronotum on the back, in this case forming several hollow spheres and spines, which makes it unpalatable for potential predators. Moreover it resembles an ant which most predators rather avoid. Treehoppers feed on plant sap which is rich in sugar. In this video the sucking mouthparts of the treehopper have penetrated the vein of a leaf.

These are three treehoppers from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador: Cyphonia trifida (red an black with spines), Enchenopa ignidorsum (black and yellow) and Darnis lateralis (shiny black with white line). Treehoppers are insects related to cicadas and leafhoppers. Most treehoppers have a highly modified pronotum on the back, forming several hollow spines, which makes them unpalatable for potential predators and thereby gives them an advantage in the struggle for survival. Treehoppers feed on plant sap which is rich in sugar. In this video the sucking mouthparts of the treehopper have penetrated the vein of a leaf.

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 treehopper from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador is called Entylia carinata in the family Membracidae and measures only 5 mm in length. Treehoppers are insects related to cicadas and leafhoppers. Most treehoppers have a highly modified pronotum on the back. Treehoppers feed on plant sap which is rich in sugar.

What looks like a tasty gummy sweet is actually a Translucent Jewel Caterpillar from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. It belongs to a family of moths known as Dalceridae whose larvae are also called slug caterpillars. They are not poisonous as many other caterpillars, but the yellow glutinous cones will just break off if a predator wants to grab them. Also their stickiness may protect them from being eaten by hungry insects such as ants.

Jumping spiders, Salticidae are the largest family of spiders. This little guy was filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Its pedipalps end in two bulbs which look like a pair of boxing gloves but are actually the male genitalia. Jumping spider do not build a web to trap insects, but jump on their prey and grab it with the jaws. Jumping spiders still produce silk for safety lines as can be seen at 20" in the video 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 colorful Monkey Grasshopper with the scientific name Eumastax vittata napoana in the family Eumastacidae is common in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador.

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

True Weevils, also called snout beetles or Curculionidae 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. These cute little fellows of the genus Peridinetus were filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador.