Insects of the Temperate Rain Forest

The Earth's rainforests are home to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of insect varieties. While tropical rainforests are mostly known for their plethora of flora and fauna, the drier, temperate rainforests are not without their own interesting species.

  1. Slugs

    • A banana slug, sliming its way along the forest floor.

      Several types of slugs can be found in temperate rainforests, worldwide. Perhaps the most well-known and largest species is the banana slug. Named for its bright yellow color, this slug occasionally has black spots or a slightly greenish hue. Banana slugs, which are native to the Pacific Northwest area of the United States, can grow to be as long as eight inches. Their eyes, which are located at the ends of lengthy antennae, can be retracted at will. Banana slugs secrete slime that assists in their movement as they slide along.

    The New Zealand Weta

    • The grasshopper is a likely relative of the weta--although only a fraction of its size.

      New Zealand is home to temperate rain forests along the west coast of South Island, as well as the whole of North Island. It also harbors the very large insect known as the Wetapunga, or Weta, for short. Three times the size of a mouse, this cricket-like bug's name means "god of ugly things" and it has been around since dinosaurs roamed the world. Wetas' ears, which are located at the front of their knees, allow them to "hear" the vibrations of noise in their surroundings. Female Wetas have long ovipositors that resemble large stingers that they use to deposit their eggs. Members of this insect species (which include over 100 separate species), include tree wetas, cave wetas, giant wetas, tusked wetas and ground wetas.

    Stick Insects

    • A walking stick insect resembles a twig more than a bug, which is how this species protects itself in the temperate rainforest.

      Stick insects are named for their uncanny resemblance to twigs--an excellent camouflage for bugs that inhabit trees in temperate rainforests in such places as Ireland, western England, Wales and Scotland. Stick insects can grow anywhere from a half-inch to nearly two feet when their legs are outstretched. Females are usually bigger than males. Stick insects are nocturnal, spending their days motionless underneath the safety of plants. As a means of protection, these bugs can play dead to confuse predators. Some species in North America also emit a fluid that dissuades attackers with its putrid smell.

    Moths

    • Moths love temperate climates.

      Moths are at home in temperate regions, and Australia's temperate rainforests along the eastern coast of Victoria house 22,000 species. Among these species is the bogong moth that has a dark brown color and two white spots on each wing. Common in northeast Victoria, bogongs migrate to the South Australian Alps each spring. The emperor gum moth is a lighter brown, with four eyespots on each wing, as well as two orange eyespots on its hind wings. These moths can remain in their cocoons for over a year until the weather conditions suit them well enough to emerge. The grapevine moth has black and white wings and an orange abdomen. Predictably, these moths can be found eating grapevines.