Insects
Surprisingly for a desert scrub ecoregion, Curacao is a haven for over thousands of insects. The two most visable are the Blue Morpho Butterfly. It beautiful iridescent blue wings that can reach up to 8 inches in wingspan. And the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly is the largest butterfly in Curacao with a wingspan of up to 6 inches. They have a distinctive yellow and black pattern on their wings, and they are known for their graceful and slow flight.
The rest of the insects are less beautiful.
The giant water beetle is one of the largest beetles in the world, and it is capable of preying on small fish and other aquatic animals. It can also give a painful (though nontoxic) bite between the toes of unsuspecting human feet. This explains one of their common names: toe-biter. Giant water bugs can feign death—becoming rigid for several minutes—if removed from the water, only to snap back to life.
Leafcutter ants are one of the few species of ants that cultivate fungus for food. They cut pieces of leaves and carry them back to their colony, where they use them to cultivate the fungus.Antlion: The Antlion (Myrmeleontidae) is an interesting insect with a unique hunting method. The Antlion larvae dig cone-shaped pits in sandy soil and wait at the bottom for ants and other small insects to fall in. The Antlion then grabs its prey with its sharp mandibles and feeds on them.
Praying Mantis: The Praying Mantis (Mantodea) is a fascinating insect with elongated front legs that are used for catching and gripping prey. They are known for their distinctive praying posture, which makes them seem like they are in deep meditation. The female Praying Mantis is also known to engage in sexual cannibalism, where she eats the male after mating.
Cicada: Similar to most countries but with a different song. Cicadas are also unique in that they have a long lifecycle, spending most of their life underground as nymphs before emerging as adults.
Jewel Beetle is a striking insect with a metallic, iridescent sheen. They are often brightly colored and can have intricate patterns on their wings. Jewel Beetles are also known for their strong mandibles, which they use to feed on wood and other plant material.
Here is an import:
Africanized Honey Bees are a non-native species of bee that have been introduced to Curacao. They are known for their aggressive behavior and can pose a threat to humans and are often swarm and kill dogs and other domestic animals.
