Other Insects

Carpenter Bees

Robust body.

Cicadas

Large transparent wings.

Damselflies

Slender body.

Dragonflies

Large eyes.

Dung Beetles

Compact beetle body.

Elephant Beetle

Large rounded beetle.

Fireflies

Soft beetle wing covers.

Green Lacewings

Delicate green body.

Katydids

Very long antennae.

Lady Beetles

Rounded beetle body.

Leafcutter Ant

Leaf fragments carried above body.

Orchid Bees

Often metallic colors.

Praying Mantises

Triangular head.

Stingless Bees

Usually small bees.

Walking Sticks

Twig-like body.

Nature Field Guide

Carpenter Bees

Spanish name: Abejas carpinteras
Scientific name: Xylocopa spp. — genus card

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the carpenter bees!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Carpenter Bees

Robust body
often shiny abdomen
some nest in wood

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Cicadas

Spanish name: Chicharras
Scientific name: Cicadidae — family card

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the cicadas!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Cicadas

Large transparent wings
broad head
loud calls from some males

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Damselflies

Spanish name: Caballitos del diablo
Scientific name: Odonata: Zygoptera — group card

Other Insects Freshwater

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the damselflies!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Damselflies

Slender body
widely separated eyes
many fold wings above abdomen

Habitat & range

Vegetation near ponds, wetlands and streams; individual species use different waters.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Dragonflies

Spanish name: Libélulas
Scientific name: Odonata: Anisoptera — group card

Other Insects Freshwater

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the dragonflies!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Dragonflies

Large eyes
two pairs of wings
wings usually held open at rest

Habitat & range

Vegetation near ponds, wetlands and streams; individual species use different waters.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Dung Beetles

Spanish name: Escarabajos estercoleros
Scientific name: Scarabaeinae — subfamily card

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the dung beetles!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Dung Beetles

Compact beetle body
digging legs
some species roll dung balls

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Elephant Beetle

Spanish name: Escarabajo elefante
Scientific name: Megasoma elephas

Other Insects Forest Edge · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the elephant beetle!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Elephant Beetle

Large rounded beetle
fine golden body hairs
males have a forward horn

Habitat & range

Most often associated with lowland wooded habitats; larvae develop in decaying wood and damp plant material. A documented Tortuguero record supports Caribbean rainforest habitat. A Costa Rican specialist account places most records below 500 m, with some to 1,500 m. Existing broad region tags require further locality checks and should not be read as presence throughout the highlands.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Fireflies

Spanish name: Luciérnagas
Scientific name: Lampyridae — family card

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the fireflies!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Fireflies

Soft beetle wing covers
some show glowing abdominal segments
light patterns vary

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Green Lacewings

Spanish name: Crisopas verdes
Scientific name: Chrysopidae — family card

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the green lacewings!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Green Lacewings

Delicate green body
finely veined wings
long antennae

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Katydids

Spanish name: Esperanzas
Scientific name: Tettigoniidae — family card

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the katydids!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Katydids

Very long antennae
leaf-like wings in many species
strong jumping hindlegs

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Lady Beetles

Spanish name: Mariquitas
Scientific name: Coccinellidae — family card

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the lady beetles!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Lady Beetles

Rounded beetle body
hard wing covers
spot patterns vary

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Leafcutter Ant

Spanish name: Hormiga zompopa
Scientific name: Atta cephalotes

Other Insects Farms & Cultivated Land · Forest Edge · Tropical Rainforest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the leafcutter ant!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Leafcutter Ant

Leaf fragments carried above body
elbowed antennae
workers of different sizes

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Orchid Bees

Spanish name: Abejas de las orquídeas
Scientific name: Euglossini — group card

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the orchid bees!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Orchid Bees

Often metallic colors
two pairs of wings
males may visit scented flowers

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Praying Mantises

Spanish name: Mantis
Scientific name: Mantodea — order card

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the praying mantises!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Praying Mantises

Triangular head
grasping front legs
alert upright posture

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Stingless Bees

Spanish name: Abejas sin aguijón
Scientific name: Meliponini — group card

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the stingless bees!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Stingless Bees

Usually small bees
busy nest entrances
shape varies among species

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.

Nature Field Guide

Walking Sticks

Spanish name: Insectos palo
Scientific name: Phasmatodea — order card

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico: “Let's look closely at the walking sticks!”

Tati: “We can compare its shape and markings without touching it.”

Identification

Key Features of the Walking Sticks

Twig-like body
six long legs
camouflage among branches

Habitat & range

Suitable forest, garden or open habitats; distribution varies with habitat and species.

Conservation & care

Observe without collecting, handling or disturbing insects or nests. Stay on permitted paths. Leave caterpillars and their food plants in place.