Invertebrates in Costa Rica and Guatemala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A number of pictures, depicting unidentified species, are also shown. If you are able to identify any of these animals, or if you find any errors, I would be grateful to receive an email. You may use the address at the bottom of this page.

 

 

 

These spiders are also called orb-weavers, from the old English word orb, meaning ‘ball-shaped’ or ‘circular’, in this case referring to the circular webs, which are suspended among vegetation, in fences, and other places.

 

The spider sits with one pair of legs in each of the four directions of the X, or aligned with the zig-zag pattern. This often makes the animal extremely visible, and many scientists have speculated as to what purpose this pattern is made. One theory is that its visibility might prevent large animals from accidentally destroying the web. Research has also shown that the pattern reflects ultra-violet light, which may attract prey to the web.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from the Greek gaster (‘belly’) and acantha (‘thorn’), referring to a number of spines, usually 6, protruding from the abdomen. These spines, as well as a shield-like carapace, covering almost the entire animal, are means of defense against enemies.

 

The colour of this animal varies tremendously, the shield being red, yellow, white, or black, the spines black or red. Females grow to 1 cm long and 1.3 cm wide, whereas males are very small, only to 3 mm long. The female has pointed spines, whereas those of the male are stubby.

The specific name is derived from the Latin cancer (‘crab’) and forma (‘shape’), alluding to the crab-like shield.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from the Greek nein (‘to spin’) and philos (‘love’), thus ‘fond of spinning’. The web of these spiders is enormous, up to 2 m across, with supporting strands much longer. The webs of different females are sometimes inter-connected, together covering many square metres. Small birds and bats are reported to have been caught in these strong webs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The common name originally stems from Lycosa tarantula, a hairy species of wolf spider from southern Europe. The name refers to the Italian town of Taranto. Presumably, the type specimen was collected there. Later, the term tarantula was applied to many large, ground-living spiders, especially those of the family Theraphosidae.

 

Habitat destruction and collection for the pet trade has led to these two genera to be protected according to the rules of CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species).

The generic name is derived from Nahuatl tlil (‘black’) and tocatl (‘spider’).

 

The specific name is derived from the Latin sabulo (‘coarse sand’ or ‘gravel’), thus ‘living in gravel’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

True bugs are a very large group of insects, with more than 80,000 species, comprising many superfamilies, including shield bugs (Pentatomoidea), red bugs or cotton stainers (Pyrrhocoroidea), cicadas (Cicadoidea), planthoppers (Fulgoroidea), and aphids (Aphidoidea).

True bugs are very diverse, but have one thing in common, namely piercing mouthparts with which they suck juice from plants or, in some cases, from other animals. Their mouthparts are contained in a beak, a so-called rostrum, which is usually held underneath the body when not in use. True bugs are often found in large congregations, densely clustered on stones, walls, or elsewhere.

 

 

 

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘pretty’ or ‘pleasing’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The family name is derived from formica, the Latin name of these animals.

 

These ants are unique, as they cut small leaf segments with their sharp mandibles and then carry them to their underground nest, holding them high as banners.

In the nest, they have ‘gardens’ where they grow a fungus of the family Lepiotaceae. The fresh vegetation is used as nutrition for this fungus, and the ants remove mold and parasites from the fungus. Bacteria growing on the ants secrete chemicals, which act as pesticides. The ants are able to detect if a particular type of leaf is toxic to the fungus, and in that case they will no longer collect it.

The fungus is used as food for the ant larvae, whereas adult ants feed on leaf sap. The larvae need the fungus to stay alive, and the fungus needs the ants to stay alive – a perfect example of symbiosis.

The nest, which can be as deep as 7 m, is placed in a way that allows a breeze to remove dangerous carbon dioxide emitted by the fungus. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafcutter_ant, where a list of references is given)

The generic name is Latin and may be translated as ‘one who walks upon the tips of his toes’.

 

The specific name is derived from Ancient Greek kephale (‘head’), thus ‘having a (large) head’.

 

 

 

 

 

A number of species live in symbiosis with various species of acacia (Vachellia). The ants attack creatures of all sizes attracted by the acacia leaves, killing insects and stinging the heads of browsing mammals. Even epiphytic plants are destroyed. The ants also clear the ground around the tree of seedlings. In return, the ants live inside swellings on the tree, protected from enemies.

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek pseudes (‘false’) and myrmex (‘ant’).

 

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘rust-coloured’, derived from ferrum (‘iron’).

 

 

 

 

 

The majority of other wasps are solitary, with each female building its own nest, or digging cavities in the ground, in which it places insects that it has stunned with its stinger, and then laying eggs on them.

 

The generic name is Ancient Greek, meaning ‘founder of a city’.

 

It is widely distributed, found from southern United States southwards to northern Argentina. It lives in small colonies, founded by queens, which build nests under the eaves of buildings or hanging from branches.

 

 

 

 

 

Contrary to the popular belief that butterflies and moths are two separate groups, genetic research has shown that butterflies are simply relatively recently derived, colourful, day-flying moths, comprising the superfamilies Hesperioidea (skippers) and Papilionoidea, the latter consisting of the families Lycaenidae (gossamer-winged butterflies, blues, coppers), Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies), Papilionidae (swallowtails and birdwings), Pieridae (whites, sulphers, and orange-tips), and Riodinidae (metalmark butterflies).

 

The name brush-footed butterflies refers to a brush-like set of hairs on the forelegs of a number of species. Another common name is four-footed butterflies, as many members are known to stand on only four legs. The forelegs are reduced and often curled up.

 

In his book Catalogus etymologicus Coleopterorum et Lepidopterorum (R. Friedland & Sohn, Berlin, 1887), L. Glaser states that Anartia is a “prince of the caste of the children of the sun” in Indian mythology.

 

Fatima is a name of Arabic origin, meaning ‘the shining one’. It was the name of the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, and for this reason many Muslims call their daughter Fatima.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘of Jatropha’. However, the larvae of this species have never been observed eating from plants of the genus Jatropha. A sentence in the description of the type specimen was “Habitat in Jatropha Americes.” This may refer to an unidentified locality.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is Latin, meaning ‘darkness’, alluding to the fact that these butterflies mainly fly at dusk. The common name refers to the large ‘eye’ spots on the underside of the wing, which resemble owls’ eyes.

 

The specific name refers to a character in the Greek mythology, where there are at least four persons with the name Ilionesus. According to one source, it alludes to a companion of the Trojan hero Aeneas, who was first mentioned in Homer’s Iliad. Ilionesus was one of the survivors, when the ships of Aeneas and his people were caught in a terrible storm. He led the survivors to Italy, where they founded Rome.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is short for the name Margareta, which is derived from Ancient Greek margarites (‘pearl’), alluding to the pearl-white markings on the wings of several species.

 

The specific name is Ancient Greek, derived from ous (‘ear’). What it refers to is not clear.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek helix (‘spiral’), alluding to the tongue of these butterflies being coiled in a spiral. This name is a bit odd, as the tongue of most butterflies is rolled up in a spiral, when the animal is not feeding.

 

Due to its very bad taste, it is relatively safe from predators, but is occasionally eaten by birds, lizards, monkeys, and mantids.

The specific name refers to one of the Greek muses, who presided over lyric poetry. The name means ‘lovely’ or ‘charming’, derived from erastos ‘beloved’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are carnivorous insects that will wait in ambush in the vegetation for an insect or another small invertebrate to pass by. With lightening speed, the mantis throws its forelegs forward and snatches the unfortunate victim, which is then devoured by the mantis. Sometimes a female will even eat the male, after he has inserted his semen in her.

These insects got their name from their posture, with the forelegs ‘folded’, as if they were in prayer – quite contradictory to the real purpose of this posture!

 

 

Comprising 5 species, they are found from Mexico southwards to Peru and Brazil.

 

The specific name is derived from the Latin rhombus (‘diamond-shaped’) and collis (‘hill’), alluding to the slightly arched shield.

 

 

 

 

 

These animals are plant-eaters, and some species at times become serious pests, forming huge swarms that consume crops over wide areas. Most species protect themselves from predators by camouflage. If detected, they suddenly jump into the air, many species displaying brilliantly coloured wings to startle the predator. Other species have strong colours as a warning to predators that they are ill-tasting.

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek tainia (‘band’ or ‘ribbon’) and pous (‘foot’), thus ‘with ribbon-like feet’.

 

The specific name is derived from the Latin reticulum (‘small net’) and the adjective-forming suffix atus, thus ‘net-like’, alluding to the pattern on the wings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The family name is derived from Ancient Greek pagouros (‘crab’). The common name alludes to these animals hiding their soft abdomens inside protective sea shells, which come in all sorts of shapes – round, oblong, spiraled. Snail shells are mostly used, and when the hermit crab grows too big for its shell, it must find a larger, suitable shell and make the change rapidly to avoid revealing its soft, vulnerable abdomen for too long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek geo (‘earth’ or ‘land’) and karkinos (‘crab’).

 

Previously, it was thought that animals on the Pacific coast of north-western South America also belonged to this species, but this population is now regarded as a separate species, G. nobili.