 How bad are the bugs?
In general, the
Cuyabeno Lakes are much better off than some of the areas more towards the East. (For
instance, near the border with Peru, a lake is called Zancudo Cocha, which means Mosquito
Lake). |
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Over the many years of our work in the
reserve, we have found that every night is different. Of course the jungle is home to a
fabulous variety of the most wonderful insects, big and small: colorful moths, odd shaped
beetles, dragonflies, etc. etc. Some nights our lights attract great numbers of very
different insects, while other nights insects abound, but most of them only belonging to
one or a few species.
One night in 1975, when our partner Daan
Vreugdenhil was inventorying the wealth of the reserve,
thousands of moths, some of them up to 10 cm body length and
dozens of different species were swarming the black lights, as
well as many species of giant beetles and probably millions of
small insects. Never again during his 35 years as a
conservation scientist has he ever seen such an abundance of
insects, size wise, in species numbers and in sheer numbers of
individual! That night, there were hardly any mosquitoes
however.
During our night excursions, we go looking
for nocturnal insects on the ground. Cuyabeno has some really
strange looking critters that you only can see at night with
flashlights.
There are also good many nights however, when only few insects
fly around. So, at night, usually insects are part of the divergence as their
movements, shapes colors and noises draw the attention, but rarely do our visitors
withdraw to their quarters for avoiding the bugs.
Mosquitoes are always present, but
strangely enough rarely in big numbers. Now, that does not mean they are harmless. They do
carry malaria and you should consult your medical provider about the best prophylactics
for
you, and you are also advised to take insect repellent.
We on our part provide all
beds with mosquito netting. So we do have insects and mosquitoes,
but as the lodge area is elevated, mosquitoes
are not a serious nuisance and the other insects are beautiful
and exiting!. All
the beds have mosquito netting, but still, you are advised to
bring mosquito repellent.
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