Costa Rica insects are many. And they are discovered every single day. However, the biggest and most fierce are not as dangerous as we may think, and the tiny and harmless looking are the ones that can create big trouble.
When I was a kid, back in the seventies, my Nanny Elena used to tell me these horrible stories about the “Chiquizá” (Chee-kee-zaa).
(I learned later in life that their real name is Tarantula Hawk) The Chiquizá was a huge black wasp with bright orange wings, and my nanny Elena would say that its sting would hurt terribly and give .you a fever, and in my fertile imagination, you would die in the middle of horrible pain.
Throughout my wandering, traveling, and guiding tour years, I saw several creatures that provoked chills in some people, and actually, the adventurer in me always found them interesting. Tarantulas, Fer de Lance, Eye Lash vipers, even Bullet ants, and other beauties would stop and explain, take pictures, and observe, sometimes for long periods. I like snakes; I like tarantulas… I don’t mind Bullet Ants… But if I see a Chiquizá… I will run! As fast as possible, terrified!
A funny story with Costa Rica Insects
t even happened to me once, with a group of intrepid young Dutch photographers, that we had seen a couple of Fer de Lance vipers (One of the most aggressive and poisonous vipers in the World). I told them to take the picture above my shoulder as I knew, pretty much, the length of their jump if they felt disturbed.
I was young, skinny, and probably they saw me as sort of a Latin American Lara Croft… Later in the tour, we saw a “Chiquizá” flying toward the group while walking on a rainforest trail. I screamed
Until later in the trip, we saw a “Chiquizá” flying toward the group while walking on a rainforest trail. I screamed irrationally and started to run up the course like a madwoman.
They did the same… yelled and ran behind me, forming a crazy group of insane people.
Later on in life, whenever I remember this afternoon, I can’t stop laughing, as all I could see were these huge Dutch people screaming and running after me as if their life was on a stake.
When we arrived at the nearby restaurant, their urgent question was, “What was it that terrified you?” I felt so embarrassed when answering… “Hmmm… a tarantula wasp!”. “A wasp?” “It is big and terrible… and… they are deadly!”… “Deadly?!”….. “Well! Not deadly… but their sting causes a lot of pain!”
My embarrassment receded when I heard about the actual pain index for stings from bugs by the entomologist Justin O. Schmidt that created this index that seeks to rank the painfulness of dozens of Hymenoptera stings across a four-point spectrum.
And it happens that the infamous tarantula hawks are among the ten most painful stings in the World… But even more than that, it happens to be that Costa Rica holds in its gorgeous rainforest the most painful of them all: The Bullet Ant!
Well yes! You just have to know a couple of tricks around the Costa Rica insects!
First of all, my Nanny Elena was not right exactly, the Tarantula Hawks are not hunting anyone down! They are quite easy and mellow, even if their sting hurts a lot (Or so I’ve read… I’ve never ever! Known anyone stung by one… And of course I never was!) they are not aggressive and between fleeing or fighting they will always fleed.
The most painful is not hunting anyone either! The bullet ants live in trees in the rainforest. And usually, you see them wondering on the barks of trees either climbing up or coming down. And that is what you really have to know!
Bullet Ants
The bullet ants live in trees in the rainforest. And usually, you see them wandering on the barks of trees, either climbing up or coming down. And that is what you have to know!
Probably the most important instruction that I always gave to my passengers was
“Watch before putting your hand anywhere!”.
Colonies consist of several hundred individuals and are usually situated at the bases of trees. And they go up the trees to forage for nectar and small bugs.
They are extremely common, and they have been places where they’ve found four ant nests in one hectare… so! Just be careful and watch where you are putting your hand. Especially when talking about large trees with buttresses.
And if you come with children into the forest, try never to let their hands loose. If you don’t think you could do that, ask us about nannies in the hotels or the tutoring system we can provide for families (Together with a tour guide, another person will come with the family group to babysit and entertain the children).
To wrap it up, let me say that no… They are not after humans!
Not the vipers, not the bullet ants, not even my dreadful friend, the tarantula hawk! Humans are big animals, and we are predators!
If they have to choose, always run away from you, and it is until they feel trapped and in danger that they attacks. All you have to do is be careful, see where you put your foot, see where you put your hands, and that’s it…
Why wouldn’t it work for you if it worked for me throughout my almost 25 years in the rainforests*?
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You may also enjoy a list of rainforest books and wildlife guides to enjoy Costa Rica Nature
The mosquito: The most dangerous animal in the jungle.
Among all the Costa Rica insects, the most dangerous one is the mosquito. Mosquitos carry parasites with diseases such as Zika Virus, malaria, or dengue.
It is quite easy to prevent with good repellent and proper clothing.
In conclusion:
*I was a naturalist tour guide for almost twenty-five years throughout the forests of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama, not once was I stung by a bullet ant or a tarantula hawk or bit by a snake. Neither got malaria, dengue or Zika virus. Worst that ever happened to me, several times yes, was to put my foot over fire ants and suffer them… But that’s ok!