Top 20 Most Common Insects in Pantanal
Insects, a diverse group characterized by their segmented bodies and jointed legs, thrive in the varied habitats of Pantanal. Geographically influenced biodiversity contributes to the vast array of insects flourishing in Pantanal. Insects, often mistakenly seen as mere pests, play crucial ecological roles such as pollinators, recyclers, and even as a food source for other fauna. Hence, Pantanal's unique environments dictate the insect inhabitants, representing an intricate balance between nuisances and helpers. Stay tuned as we explore the 20 most common insects in Pantanal.
Most Common Insects
1. Caribbean hermit crab
Caribbean hermit crab (Coenobita clypeatus) is a land hermit crab found in many parts of the western Atlantic and the Caribbean sea. This herbivorous and scavenging crab uses modified gills to breathe air. It prefers the shells of West Indian top snail (Cittarium pica). The caribbean hermit crab is one of the two species of hermit crabs found in the pet trade in the US.
2. Zebra longwing
The zebra longwing (Heliconius charithonia) is a beautiful butterfly that has a texture resembling a zebra. They feast and pollen and nectar, using the pollen to produce chemicals that poison predators if they are eaten, deterring most predators from attack. Unfortunately, their populations have been decimated after being caught in the crossfire of sprays meant to control mosquitos.
3. Western honey bee
Western honey bee（Apis mellifera） is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.
4. White peacock
The wingspan of the moths is 51 to 70 millimeters. The basic color is whitish. On the forewings there is a black, circular spot near the inner angle. At the front edge, two to three oblong, yellow-brown spots stand out. The Submarginalregion is also yellow-brown colored and crossed by dark lines. On the hind wings are two more small, black, circular spots near the tawny and dark-colored submarginal region. A short tail is more or less strong. The wing underside shows similar drawing elements as the top, but these are paler and weaker pronounced.
5. Tetrio sphinx
The adult moth is brown with gray and white markings, and the hindwing is a darker brown. The female may be lighter in tone. The body has gray, white, and black bands. The wingspan is 13 - 14 cm, and the female is generally slightly larger than the male. The larva is a caterpillar which may exceed 15 cm in length. It is black with aposematic yellow bands and a red-orange head. Toward the posterior end is an orange bump with a black horn roughly 2 cm long. The legs are orange with black spots. The pupa is about 7 cm long. It is yellow when new, turning brown and darkening to a reddish brown as it hardens. 
6. Silver argiope
The silver argiope (Argiope argentata) often creates unique zigzag patterns on its webs. It's usually found in warm, dry areas, especially on cacti and aloe vera plants. The females are much larger than males. They can bite and cause irritation to the skin, but the damage won't be life-threatening.
7. Yellowline arrow crab
The body of S. seticornis is triangular, and the rostrum is drawn out into a long point with serrate edges. The legs are also long and thin, up to 10 cm (3.9 in) across, and the animal's carapace may be up to 6 cm (2.4 in) long. Colouration is variable in this species; the body may be golden, yellow or cream, marked with brown, black or iridescent-blue lines; the legs are reddish or yellow, and the claws are blue or violet.
8. Atlantic ghost crab
9. Gray cracker
The wingspan is 7 - 9 cm. The upperside is mottled brown and white although there is some red in the forewing cell bar. The hindwing eyespots have orange scales preceding black crescents. The underside of the hindwings is white and the submarginal eyespots are composed of a brown ring around a black crescent in a white center.
10. Caribbean spiny lobster
Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) is a crustacean found in reefs and mangrove swamps in the western Atlantic Ocean. It is the most commonly harvested Panulirus species in the Caribbean region, highly valued for its meat. It is nocturnal and lives a relatively secluded lifestyle hiding in various shelters. Still, odd migrations of hundreds of individuals lined up and marching on the seafloor happen from time to time near Florida and the Bahamas.
More
