Costa Rica boasts so many species of insects that it’s been impossible to account for them all. Thanks to the country’s varied eco-systems, many new and varied insect species have taken shape and are able to sustain themselves in Costa Rica.

 

Thus far, scientists have been able to identify about 1,000 species of butterflies. That number represents about one-tenth of the world’s population of butterflies. In the morning, when butterflies are most active, it’s not unusual to view about a dozen species in the span of just a few minutes. Look for the stunning owl-eye butterfly with its 13 km wing span or the intriguing neon blue “flash of morphus” species.

 

Ants are plentiful in Costa Rica as well. In all, researchers believe there are literally thousands of ant species in this Central American country and one hectare of rainforest is believed to contain about nine million ants! Though you’ll probably spy a number of ants on your journey, some of Costa Rica’s other insects are too small to see with the naked eye, such as the hummingbird flower mite, which measures only half-a-millimeter. You’ll also find a number of unpleasant bugs here as well, including bees, chiggers, wasps, fire ants, ticks, and mosquitoes.