Nick Volpe
@nvolpe.bsky.social
๐ค 2604
๐ฅ 73
๐ 290
Wildlife photographer/filmmaker ๐ธ๐๐ชฒ๐ฆ
https://www.patreon.com/c/nlwild
Show me your best bug of 2025! ๐ชฒ๐ Another big year comes to an end and we found over 1000 different bug species between the Amazon & Australia! ๐คฏ Probably my favourite was this Giant Amazon Silkmoth from Peru! ๐ฆ I'm keen to see what beauties you guys found this year! ๐ฅฐ๐๐
2 months ago
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Bro is LOCKED IN! ๐ค Check this out! An inseparable mating pair of Leaf Mantids (Pseudoxyops perpulchra) from Ecuador! ๐ That small male at the back is hanging on for dear life! We all know what the female will do if she gets the chance! ๐ ๐
2 months ago
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The Mimic Poison Frog! ๐ฅฐ๐ธ One of the worldโs most special frogs, Ranitomeya imitator lives up to its name and mimics other Dart Frogs that are more toxic! ๐ฎโ ๏ธ In this case here in the Peruvian rainforest itโs mimicking Ranitomeya summersi, a beautiful yellow & black frog! ๐๐ค
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2 months ago
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TRILOBITE BEETLES!!! ๐๐ฟ Some of the coolest bugs in Asiaโs rainforests are these female Lycid Beetles, that look like theyโre from prehistoric ages!๐ฑ๐ฆ They retain their larval form as adults and feed on decaying matter in the leaf litter of the forest! ๐ I get goosebumps every time I see them! ๐
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2 months ago
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Everyones favourite bees! ๐ Did you know Australia has over 20+ species of Blue-banded Bees? ๐ฅฐ They are all so important for pollination of native flowers and are one of the main factors in our eco-systems being healthy! ๐ณ๐ธ Make sure you are planting natives in your garden to attract these bees! ๐ฑ๐ผ
3 months ago
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ENOOOOORMOUS SNAIL!? ๐คฏ๐ PLEASE meet the Giant Amazon Land Snail (Megalobulimus popelairianus)! ๐งก These guys are the HEAVIEST terrestrial land snail and are just an all-round extraordinary critter! It was an absolute HONOUR bumping into this one on the beautiful paths of Maquipucunaโs forest! ๐ณโจ
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3 months ago
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reposted by
Nick Volpe
Gil Wizen
3 months ago
These tarantulas are covered in urticating hairs, something that
@nvolpe.bsky.social
and
@lucynak.bsky.social
learned the hard way... The tarantula does not need to kick its urticating hairs for them to lift off. A small blow of air is enough to do that as well, so always be cautious around them!
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MEET MR. MOSSY WEEVIL! ๐๐ This is the most ADORABLE little beetle strutting its mossy stuff around the Amazon! ๐ณ LOOK at those adorable little antennas! ๐ฅน๐ Measuring in at one centimetre long, I believe it is in the genus Ulocerus and it is another little GEM found at Manu Biological Station! ๐ชฒ๐
3 months ago
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Woohoo! ๐ Last night Lucy and I braved the rain in Phuket to find this incredible Whip Scorpion (Catageus sp.) in the rainforest! ๐ณ These incredible arachnids live and hunt on the massive boulder systems in the forest, scattering around like they are almost part of the rock!๐ชจ
3 months ago
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What a BEAUTY! ๐คฉ The Rothschildia Silkmoths from the neotropics are some of the most beautiful insects in the world! ๐ณ๐ฆ With over 30 species attaining a massive wingspan, they are absolute jewels to see in the dense rainforest! ๐ This one was found at around 1400m in elevation on Manu road in Peru!๐ฟ
3 months ago
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Pumpkin Patch Tarantula!๐ท๏ธ๐ One of the most incredible spiders in the world, this Tarantula (Hapalopus sp.) lives in the Ecuadorian Amazon!๐ณ When people think of Tarantulas, we mainly think of large, plain coloured spiders, but in the neotropics we enter a world of colour!๐งก๐ค
4 months ago
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The Blue Spotted Beauty! ๐๐ต One of the most STUNNING fish in the world, the Blue-spotted Fantail Ray has electric blue spots as a warning sign to predators of its venomous tail spinesโก These rays patrol the sandy floors at night looking for crustacean and fish snacks! ๐ฆ
4 months ago
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The Tiny Bees Powering Giant Eucalyptus Trees! ๐๐ณ Australia's best superheroes are often overlooked! โญ Euryglossinae Bees are only found in Australia where over 400 species are pollinating Eucalyptus trees every day! ๐๐ธ The catch? They are TINY! Only 3-8mm big! ๐คฏ (1/2)
4 months ago
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Orchid-eating Mossy Stick Insect (Taraxippus sp.) ๐ Another couple of photos of this all so incredible phasmid! ๐ฟ They live in the dense montane forests of South and Central America where they ONLY feed on orchids, making them even rarer to see in the forest! ๐ธ
4 months ago
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NO WAYYYY! ๐คฏ๐คฏ๐คฏ Is this the COOLEST stick insect ever?? ๐ This mossy girl (Taraxippus sp.) from Peru was the most incredible phasmid I have ever seen, I could not get over how perfectly camouflaged it was on the mossy trees! ๐ณ So in awe of our natural world! ๐ฟ
4 months ago
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Bugs of the steamy Mayan Jungle! ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฝ A collage of our BEST BUG finds from staying at @h2ojostulum in Tulum! ๐ฆ๐ท๏ธ Who is your favourite bug from here? ๐คฉ Mine is the Yucatan Red-rumpled Tarantula! ๐ค๐งก I wish we could spend more time in the future in Mexico, there is so much diversity to uncover! ๐ธ
4 months ago
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WHAT A SPIDER!!! ๐คฏ๐คฏ BEHOLD, one of the coolest arachnids in the world, the Long-horned Spiny Orb Spider (Macracantha arcuata)! ๐ท๐ Found in the rainforests of SE Asia, these magnificent beasts are found usually at head-height in a web theyโve made to catch flying prey!๐๐ธ๏ธ
4 months ago
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One of the most IMPRESSIVE snakes Iโve ever seen was this amazing 2m long Oxybelis fulgidus in Ecuador ๐ณ๐ The speed on these arboreal snakes is intimidating, as they use their rear-fanged toxic saliva to chase down birds, mammals and other reptiles in the treetops! ๐โญ๏ธ
4 months ago
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WHAT A BUG! ๐คฉโค๏ธ Perfectly camouflaged in the mossy cloud forests of South America, this Lanternfly (Diareusa conspersa) flashes its bright red spotted underwings if disturbed! ๐ฅ This threat display is to make it look bigger and more menacing so predators like birds think twice! ๐ฆโ๏ธ
5 months ago
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An ALIEN on earth!? ๐คฏ๐ฝ CHECK OUT this insane Treehopper from the Peruvian Amazon! ๐ณ Membracids are known for their bizarre shapes and protrusions, but this genus goes to a whole new level! It is thought this crazy C shape is to aid in camouflage to avoid predation from birds! ๐ฆ๐ณ
6 months ago
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CYCLOPTERA!! ๐๐ The big leafy dream! ๐ One of the most incredible leaf mimics in the Amazon, Cycloptera speculata is one special katydid! ๐ณ Camouflaging as your food is one of the smartest ideas, especially when youโre so BIG! We were SO happy to see this BEAUTIFUL BUG!! ๐คฉ
6 months ago
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PONGO BOY!! ๐๐ธ One of the most beautiful Poison Dart Frogs, Ameerega pongoensis is endemic to the San Martรญn & Loreto regions of Peru! ๐ณ๐ต๐ช The yellow and blues on this guy are INCREDIBLE! ๐๐ An absolute highlight of our trip with @andes2amazon.expeditions โจ
6 months ago
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Dead leaf or BUTTERFLY!? ๐คฏ๐ Zaretis sp. from the Peruvian Amazon! ๐ฆ This one got very comfortable on our sweaty clothes and hands! ๐ So lucky!
7 months ago
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WHAT A BUTTERFLY! ๐คฏโค๏ธ๐ค One of the most striking insects in the world, the amazing Blood Red Skipper is found in the Amazon rainforest! ๐ณ The males are this bold red & black colour whilst females adorn a similar pattern but with most of the wings shining white! ๐ฎ JUST WOWWWWW! ๐๐ฆ๐
7 months ago
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UFO LEAF MANTIS!? ๐คฏ๐๐ธ How CRAZY is this Choeradodis stalli boy from the Amazon!! ๐ณ Looking EXACTLY like a leaf, he can stay hidden from predators whilst also catching any unsuspecting insect prey! ๐ฆ๐ An absolute honor to run into this spectacular critter!!๐คฉ
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7 months ago
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We won't neglect you buddy! ๐ฅน๐ฆ One of the most beautiful butterflies here at Manu Biological Station is the Neglected Eighty-eight, that is a little ray of sunshine every time you see it!โ๏ธ This group of butterflies is named 88 because of the numeric pattern on its wings! 8๏ธโฃ8๏ธโฃ
8 months ago
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Just really sad how all my effort is for very little now on Facebook as AI pages use AI photos ripping off insect photographers and dominate the newsfeed. Very disappointing that Meta allows this shit to continue ๐ก๐ก๐ก
8 months ago
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Welcome to the 50th butterfly species we've photographed for our guide on Insects of the Amazon! ๐ณ๐ฆ The spectacular Erichthodes antonina! Not too much is known on this species, but i LOVE the way it arcs its wings when at rest, almost like a leaf! ๐
8 months ago
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reposted by
Nick Volpe
Gil Wizen
8 months ago
That mossy texture on this cute Ulocerus brentid weevil? That's REAL MOSS growing on it. Many beetles are long lived, just enough time for moss spores (and even lichens! although much rarer) to establish on their exoskeleton and start growing - similar to crabs covered in algae, anemones or sponges.
add a skeleton here at some point
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MEET MR. MOSSY WEEVIL! ๐๐ This is the most ADORABLE beetle strutting its mossy stuff around the Amazon! ๐ณ LOOK at those adorable little antennas! ๐ฅน๐ I believe it is in the genus Ulocerus and it is another little BEAUTY found here at Manu Biological Station! ๐ชฒ๐
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8 months ago
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MEET MR. MOSSY WEEVIL! ๐๐ This is the most ADORABLE beetle strutting its mossy stuff around the Amazon! ๐ณ LOOK at those adorable little antennas! ๐ฅน๐ I believe it is in the genus Ulocerus and it is another little BEAUTY found here at Manu Biological Station! ๐ชฒ๐
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8 months ago
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reposted by
Nick Volpe
NEW video up of a BELTER of a BUG! ๐คฉ -youtu.be/JONRa6Ic138
9 months ago
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reposted by
Nick Volpe
youtu.be/JONRa6Ic138
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CRAZY STICK GRASSHOPPER ๐คฏ
YouTube video by NLWild
https://youtu.be/JONRa6Ic138
9 months ago
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NEW video up of a BELTER of a BUG! ๐คฉ -youtu.be/JONRa6Ic138
9 months ago
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WASP OR MOTH!? ๐๐คฏ One of the most incredible mimics in the world, this Tiger Moth (Orcynia calcarata) looks so much like a wasp I was almost nervous holding it! ๐ณ There are so many tiger moths mimicking wasps in the Amazon itโs crazy! ๐ฏ๐ณ How amazing is nature! ๐๐ค
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9 months ago
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WHERE MY FLY FREAKS AT!?๐ชฐ๐ The Amazon is home to some WEIRD & WHACKY flies, such as this male Paragorgopis sp. ๐ณ Apart from looking like a hammerhead shark, we almost know nothing else about this genus of flies! There is still SO much to learn about the invertebrate world and it excites me so much!๐คฉ
9 months ago
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TARANTULA HAWK WASP!! ๐คฏ๐ฑ The world's most PAINFUL insect sting belongs to this crazy wasp! Paralysing the biggest spiders in the world, they mean business! ๐ท๏ธ๐ This wasp was very relaxed in Gwen's professional bug touching hands & I was NOT even close to game enough to try! ๐ณ
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10 months ago
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AWESOME Hoatzin feeding on leaves at Manu Biological Station! ๐ฟ These birds are honestly real life dinosaurs! ๐ฆ
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10 months ago
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The coral reefs of Darwin Harbour are one of Australiaโs most biodiverse areas. ๐ ๐ชธ Yet it is under threat again from industrialisation. ๐จ These reefs are so sensitive and have already been impacted greatly by past projects and also by a changing climateโฆ
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11 months ago
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The worldโs most beautiful bee? ๐คฏ๐๐ Metallic blue with a rainbow butt, the GLORIOUS Mixed Orchid Bee (Euglossa mixta) brightens the rainforest canopy of the Amazon as it buzzes in search of orchids! ๐ณ๐
11 months ago
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THE SABER-TOOTH TIGER IS BACK! ๐คฏ๐ฏ De-extinction at its best, we have edited the genes of a Micrathena spider to bring back the ancient mammalian predator! ๐ โ ๏ธ In all seriousness, HOW COOL is Micrathena evansi from the Amazon, one of the coolest patterns & shapes I have ever seen on a spider! ๐ท๏ธ๐ณ๐คฉ
11 months ago
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MANTIS of my DREAMS! ๐คฉ๐ This ENORMOUS Macromantis hyalina had me FLABBERGASTED! ๐คฏ I still canโt get over the size of these mantids, they literally rule the canopy of the Amazon rainforest! ๐ณ This is the second boy Iโve seen and Iโm DESPERATE to find a female! ๐๐ฅน
11 months ago
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ABSOLUTE WOW! ๐คฏ The Spiny Devil Katydid (Panacanthus cuspidatus) is one of the most ICONIC insects of the Amazon! ๐ณ With those MEAN spikes it can take down prey with ease, something I was NERVOUS my finger could become! ๐ A DREAM FIND! ๐คฉ
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12 months ago
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LOOOOOOK at her MOON egg sack!!!! ๐๐ท๏ธ
add a skeleton here at some point
12 months ago
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HOW GOOD ARE SPIDERS!? ๐๐ท๏ธ These beautiful Thorned Heart Orbweavers are one of my favourite arachnids to find in the Amazon! โค๏ธ๐ณ The details in this spider are AMAZING when you zoom in! ๐ The genus Micrathena is full of so many odd-shaped spiders and is SO diverse with over 100 species! ๐คฏ
12 months ago
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@euanritchie.bsky.social
I just woke up in Peru and my AFL app isnโt working, can you let me know how much Richmond lost by? ๐ญ๐ฏ
12 months ago
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PACMAN FOUND IN MANU! ๐ธ๐ One of the most adorable frogs in the world, the Amazon Horned Frog is the PERFECT ambush predator!๐ Sitting camouflaged in leaf litter, they wait until anything walks by before making them disappear in that GIANT mouth!๐ Such an incredible amphibian. I LOVE the Amazon๐ณโจ
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12 months ago
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MR. PEANUT HEAD!!๐คฏ๐คฏ๐คฏ In all its glory, MARVEL at this incredible Lanternfly which can be found in the Peruvian Amazon!๐ณ๐ฅ One of the BEST & most unique insects in the world, this giant bug can be tricky to find and only lives and feeds on a few specific trees! Another insane day at Manu Biolodge!๐
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about 1 year ago
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A beautiful Andean Guan! ๐๏ธ Living in absolute paradise in the cloud forests of Wayqecha Biological Station, these large tree chickens can be heard rustling around in trees feeding on any fruit! ๐๐ณ
about 1 year ago
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Our favourite Valentines Day presentโฆ โค๏ธ A RARE RED Poison Dart Frog (Ameerega silverstonei) ๐ธ๐ต๐ช Canโt wait to share more content soon on this outrageous frog!! ๐
about 1 year ago
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