Insect Biodiversity Kellen Schexnayder Jeetendra Khadka Jessie Ratliff Matt Capdeville Adrianna Dalton

Tropics Blue Morpho Butterfly

 Approximately 20,000 species of butterflies have been recorded in the world.  What is its role in the ecosystem in which it resides? As caterpillars, they consume certain rainforest plants, which regulates the plants' growth. As a butterfly, they play a big ecological role as flower pollinators.  What environmental conditions does it prefer? Warmer climates  Where does it get its energy/food? They feed on fermenting fruit, on the bodily fluids of dead animals, and on fungi.  Does it provide food/shelter/other to any other organisms? As caterpillars, they provide food for other insects and birds in the rainforest.  Is it a necessary part of its ecosystem? Because of their short lifespan (4 months), they’re not extremely necessary to the ecosystem; most of the Blue Morpho Butterfly’s life is spent reproducing and feeding.

Blue Morpho Butterfly  Where is it native? Central and South America rainforest.  Why has it succeeded where it now lives? The many colors in their wings protects them against potential predators. While flying, their wings look like they change colors, giving off a disappearing effect. While on the ground, their wings camouflage with the forest’s floor.  Where are the hotspots of biodiversity for your assigned organism? Tropical rainforest; on the forest floor.

Temperate Dragonflies

 About 4500 species of Odonate Anisoptera are in the world today.  What is its role in the ecosystem in which it resides? They reduce the use of pesticides and spread of diseases because of the types of insects they like to eat.  What environmental conditions does it prefer? They thrive in fresh water environments. Most are tropical and fewer temperate.  Where does it get its energy/food? They eat mosquitoes and other insects or what ever they can grab.  Does it provide food/shelter/other to any other organisms? They are primarily eaten by insect-eating birds, frogs, big spiders and fish.  Is it a necessary part of its ecosystem? They help to control the populations of disease spreading insects. Their presence in the ecosystem can also reflect on the health of the water and the environment around them.

Dragonflies  Where is it native? World-wide, mostly in tropical or temperate regions.  Why has it succeeded where it now lives? Their speed and agility allow them to outmaneuver potential predators. They can fly backwards, sideways, and diagonal and reach speeds up to 55 mph. Plus, they aren’t picky eaters!  Where are the hotspots of biodiversity for your assigned organism? Areas with plenty of fresh water and warm climates.

Tundra Mosquitoes

 What is its role in the ecosystem in which it resides? They provide food for other insects and animals. Many fish feed on mosquito larvae.  What environmental conditions does it prefer? Warmer climates with stagnant water to breed.  Where does it get its energy/food? Males feed on nectar and water while females seek the blood of warm-blooded creatures.  Does it provide food/shelter/other to any other organisms? They are food for other insects and insect-eating birds, and in their early stages of life, they get eaten by diving pond beetles.  Is it a necessary part of its ecosystem? Though they may seem to be more of a nuisance than a necessary part of the ecosystem, they provide food for many different insects and animals. Because of the recent climate change and warming of the poles, they are coming out earlier, growing bigger, and multiplying faster. They are also attacking animals in swarms, like caribou, and are causing their numbers to drop.

Mosquitoes  Where is it native? World-wide in places with stagnant water and warm temperatures.  Why has it succeeded where it now lives? In the cold tundra winters, they survive by converting the water in their bodies to glycerol, a chemical that acts like antifreeze. Melted snow and ice create pools of shallow still water and the almost constant sunlight in mid- summer raise the temperature. This creates the perfect breeding ground.  Where are the hotspots of biodiversity for your assigned organism? The Arctic tundra; they can appear in swarms so thick they can turn the sky gray!