Tropical Rainforests are well known for their high diversity and extreme examples of invertebrate fauna. The Atlantic forest is no exception and many charismatic groups are well represented.
REGUA has many scientists studying particular groups such as odonata, lepidoptera, treehoopers and thorn bugs, arachnids and praying mantis. Some of the most impressive sights in the forest are the swarms of army ants (Eciton burchellii) that travel in colonies of 100,000 to 2 million and forage across the forest floor for prey. When a swarm is found all the large-medium sized invertebrates in the area can be easily observed climbing up branches or fleeing from their nests and holes. Even top predators such as spiders and scorpions are at risk from these swarms, that can overpower prey much larger than the single ant. This is the period when many of the "ant" specialist birds can be seen hunting not the ants but the insects caught out in the open fleeing from the ants. I have come across several army ant swarms and always find a flurry of bird activity when I do.
Below is a selection of a few invertebrates from hundreds I have found in the reserve;
Golden orb web spider
Tarantula sp.
Crab spider sp.
unidentified large beetle.
Stick insect sp.
Praying mantis sp.
Flatworm sp
Leaf-cutter ants
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