Invertebrates

Some of these animals are as astonishing in their behavior as in their colors. Tropical habitats contain tight relationships between plants and animals, and insects and their relatives play key roles. By going from flower to flower to drink nectar, some invertebrates, like the Monarch Butterfly, are good pollinators for plants. In tropical forests, insects are the most important herbivores and they consume the most leaves eaten by animals. With so many insects hungry for plants, such as the Leaf-Cutter and Walking Stick, some plants spend energy defending themselves by delaying turning green or growing tougher leaves. Some insects have a diet restricted to just one plant and some plants have only one insect pollinator—so each needs the other to survive.

Not all insects and arachnids eat plants, though. Helicopter Damselflies attack spiders. Assassin Bugs liquefy their prey. Army Ants take down live animals, in addition to sweeping the forest floor for insects that have died. Of course, invertebrates make very desirable meals to other animals—there are a number of birds, amphibians, and reptiles that would love to snag a tasty insect.

Whatever the time of year or type of habitat, the invertebrates will be there.