Insects and other Invertebrates

There is a myriad of insect life in Malaysia, most of them legionary. The most beautiful are the butterflies, of which there are about 1,000 species. Also numerous are the moths, the largest and the most famous being the Atlas Moth. The attractive dragonflies and damselflies are always found close to the water where they lay eggs.

Malaysia has three types of bees – the stingless bee, giant honeybee and hive bee, all of which produce honey. Their relatives, the hymenopteran species of hornets and wasps are feared for their fierce stings. Some wasps species, however, act as biological control agents.

Ants and termites, which belong to groups of similar structure but different orders, are found in forests and homes. Many Malaysian ants are known for their painful bites, while termites can destroy whole fields of crops and bring down entire buildings.

In the tropical rainforest, there are fascinating stick insects with an uncanny resemblance to leaves or sticks that provides perfect camouflage from predators. Many species of bugs such as weevils destroy crops although there are some other beetles which are beneficial as they devour other insect pests. Among the most spectacular beetles are the rhinoceros beetle, the stag beetle and the long-horned beetle. One can always sense the noisy presence of grasshoppers, cicadas and crickets; and feel the irritating bite of the ubiquitous mosquitoes. Other invertebrates that are best avoided are the scorpion, the centipede and certain spiders, while the predatory leech dominates the damp jungle floor.