The Insects of Madagascar

Shall we talk about insects? If you’re already familiar with the vast landscapes, lemurs, and vegetation of Madagascar, prepare to discover an even broader and more surprising world. With over 4,500 species of butterflies and a multitude of fascinating insects, the island is home to creatures that few people know about and hardly pay attention to.

For the curious and entomologists alike, Madagascar offers an endless field of exploration. You will find butterflies in every imaginable shape, size, and colour, including the majestic swallowtails. And that’s not all! The giraffe weevil, an endemic species with an incredibly long neck, will surprise you with its appearance and unusual behaviour: it uses its long neck in fights among males vying for the chance to mate with a female, a result of unique sexual selection.

In the shadows, enormous spiders sometimes weave gigantic webs over 30 metres long, true masterpieces of nature. In the city, these creatures appear harmless, but in the forest, lurking in the shadows and crevices, they reveal a completely different side. There, some species, like the menavody, a Malagasy black widow (Latrodectus menavodi), can cause serious ailments, including intense fevers. Its venom, like that of other black widows, is very powerful and could be fatal to a young child, or even to an adult after multiple bites.

Scorpions, found in places such as the Ankarana massif, along with tarantulas and centipedes, make the forest as exciting as it is dangerous. Taking a few precautions will not spoil your adventure; on the contrary, it will enable you to fully enjoy this extraordinary exploration.

Are you ready to encounter these little wonders and thrills of nature? Be sure to consult a specialised guide to learn more about these species and understand their role in the Malagasy ecosystem. Let the adventure begin, and may every step lead you to discover a world of exceptional biodiversity!

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