Bugs

You can not visit (or live in) Costa Rica without being amazed by the huge numbers of plants and animals that inhabit this incredible green wonderland. As a former biology teacher, I find the biodiversity fascinating. I love spotting new birds, reptiles and mammals. I love that as each month passes there are different plants and trees blooming. I love that with a short drive you can be in a completely new ecosystem. I love Costa Rica, however, I don’t think it is fair to talk to tourists about Costa Rica without mentioning the bugs. When people talk about biodiversity everyone needs to understand that birds and mammals are not the only creatures that make Costa Rica one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. The insects make a big contribution too.

It is uncertain the exact number of species of insects in Costa Rica, but some estimates are as high as a fifty thousand different species. There are at least 1250 species of butterflies, 8000 species of moth, 80 species of fireflies, 60 species of stingless bees (another 23 of stinging bees), and 5000 species of grasshoppers.


And then there are the ants. According to INBio, one hectare of rainforest contains an average of nine million ants. I haven’t been able to discover how many species of ants there are, but they are over 500 species in La Selva including 150 species of army ants alone. Most of the ants are harmless and fascinating to see. But a word of warning, watch out for those living on the Acacia tree, they have a powerful sting. We frequently take time to watch the leaf cutter ants at work, and have been amazed at how the army ants can turn a snake carcass into a snake skeleton in under an hour.

Also be aware, you might not see ‘um, but there are an estimated 332 species of No See ‘um in Costa Rica. Ceratopogonidae, also knwon as biting midges, no-see-ums or punkies, purrujas, jejenes, polvorines or manta blanca are common through out Costa Rica. According to Art Borkent, there is some good news, despite the large number of species found in Costa Rica, only 12 have been recorded as feeding on humans. Generally you need to fear the Costa Rican no see ‘um if you are at the beach or in the mangroves.

Although some people might find all this talk about bugs off-putting it is important to point out that most of the bugs of Costa Rica are both harmless and fascinating (and even some of the harmful ones are fascinating from a distance). Some of my favorite Costa Rican bugs are of course butterflies. I also love the giagantic grasshoppers, and the walking sticks that look like foot long pieces of rose bush. The rhinoceros beatle is a big hit with the kids as are the huge cicadas.

When you visit Costa Rica, be open to experiencing nature. Come prepared to see flora and fauna of immense beauty and diversity. Keep your eyes and ears open and you will see and hear wondrous creatures. Also, be prepared for a few bug bites. I highly recommend traveling with Afterbite. If you are planning on canopy tours or mangrove tours pack an insect repellent wipes that contains DEET.

Remember that the Costa Rican sunsets are beautiful, but dusk is prime time for mosquitos, no see’ums and biting flies. If you are planning on watching sunset in a beachside restaurant, don’t forget to wipe a little repellent on your ankles before heading out.


Yes, there are a lot of bugs in Costa Rica, but that is a good thing. The bugs are part of the biodiversity that you are traveling to see. The bugs also are an important part of each of the ecosystems found in Costa Rica. Enjoy the beauty and diversity of the bugs.