Amazon rainforest is the home for more than 25 millions of different species of insects. Warm climate with heavy rainfalls result into abundant vegetation in most part of the region make favorable conditions for the growth and reproduction of millions of species of insects. It is estimated that one acre of Amazon rainforest contains more than 70,000 species of insects. Even a single tree of the forest may contain about 50 number of different species of insects. The 100 million year old rainforest is the reason for being most bio-diverse on the earth. It is highly impossible to count the actual number of different species of insects living in this region. In fact many hundreds of species have been driven from the region because of the deforestation.

Butterflies, Moths, Caterpillars, Beetles, Bees, Ants, Grasshoppers, Dragonflies, Spiders, Leaf mimicking insects and Walking Sticks are some of the commonly found insects of Amazon rainforest.

Butterflies

These are colorful and beautiful living creatures of the forest. They are belonging to the family 'papilionoidea'. About 7000 different species of butterflies which counts more than 30% of world total number of species are found here. Of which Blue Morpho, Owl Butterfly, are some of the important species of this beautiful insect. Before getting beautiful appearance it attains different stages of metamarphosis.

Blue Morpho

This is a species of neotropical butterfly that has brilliant blue wings. Female insects are not having brilliant colors as male ones have. It has wingspan of 6 inches across. Adult insects drink the juices of rotting fruit using their straw like proboscis.

Owl Butterfly

This is so called as it has number of eye spots called ocelli on the underside of hand wings. When it is held head down it resembles the head of an owl. It is speculated that ocelli false eyes to scare smaller birds that attempt prey on the butterfly.

Cithaerias Phantoma

This is found in only in deeply shaded areas of primary rainforest, at altitude between 200 to 800m. The adult insects are almost existing singly. The butterflies are crepuscular in nature and they can be found some time in the middle of the day, but, more often at dusk. The wing beats of the insect are slow and deep. It normally rests with wings closed and at that time it will be very difficult to locate the insects.