EcuadorMegadiverso

Jumping spiders, Salticidae are the largest family of spiders. This little Phiale sp. 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. 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 hairy and brightly coloured caterpillar of a Lappet moth (Lasiocampidae) was filmed in the cloud forest near Mindo, Ecuador. The adult moths of Lasiocampidae do not feed and therefore live for one or two weeks only. There are about 3500 species of butterflies and perhaps 10000 of moths in Ecuador, which is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth.

This Planthopper nymph from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador has a tail made from fibers of extruded wax. If a predator tries to grab it the wax fibers brake off and the planthopper can escape.

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.

This pretty Leafhopper Nymph from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador is only about 4 mm in size as can be seen by comparison with the tip of a ballpoint pen at the end of this video.

This little Katydid nymph from the upper Amazon rainforest of Ecuador is about 10 mm in length without legs and antennas. Here is another species: https://rumble.com/v5i8yb

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!

This Weevil from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador is just 4 mm in size.

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.

Tortoise beetles own their name to the carapace under which they can find shelter like a tortoise, with the difference that their carapace can open for flight. This species is 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. This cute little fellow of the genus Cholus was filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador

This Hoverfly, Palpada sp., Syrphidae was filmed in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador

This soldier fly, Cyphomyia sp, Stratiomyidae looks like wearing a yellow helmet.