The Daintree Rainforest is home to a many
species of insects. Some display vibrant colours, some are masters of camouflage,
and others play vital roles
in balancing of the ecosystem.
Hereare some of the bugs and butterflies you
will see on North Queensland Daintree
rainforest tours:
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| Daintree rainforest ant |
ANTS
There are countless ant species that thrive in
the rainforest. One of the most notable is the green weaver ant Oncyphilla.
These ants have a peculiar nest building behaviour. They swarm over the end of
a branch and pull the leaves together using chains of their bodies. Their silk
glands create waterproof joints between the leaves forming a nest.
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| See this in Daintree rainforest tours |
BUTTERFLIES
Among the butterflies of the Daintree, the
Ulysses butterfly stands out with its bright blue colour against the green
backdrop of the forest. The flapping of its brilliant metallic blue wings often
resemble an intense blue flashing light.
You may also encounter the enormous Birdwing
butterfly. It takes its name from its huge wing span that averages at about 20
centimetres, making it Australia’s largest butterfly.
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| Beetle found near a Cape Tribulation accommodation |
BEETLES
Beetles keep the Daintree ecosystem balanced by
helping decompose tree trunks and boosting the soil’s fertility.
The Brentidae is one of the strangest looking
beetles with its eyes set on a long stalk in front of its head. The Rhinoceros
beetle on the other hand has long horns on their forehead hence its name.
MOTHS
These are often mistaken as butterflies but are
a separate species. Unlike butterflies, moths are nocturnal and have hairy
antennae.
The Hercules moth is the largest in the world with a wingspan
of up to 225 millimetres. It lives in the same area with the four O’clock moth which
has a habit of showing up only in the late afternoon.
These bugs and butterflies are only part of the
reason why you should visit the Daintree rainforest. Drop by to see more of its
wonders when you book affordable Cape Tribulation accommodation in North
Queensland.
