12 facts
Biocentro Güembé in Santa Cruz de la Sierra boasts the largest enclosed butterfly habitat on Earth, sheltering thousands of butterflies of various species. It also features bird aviaries and natural pools.
Studies show that bees can be trained to distinguish between different human faces by identifying the distinct patterns formed by facial features. This capability is surprising given their tiny brains.
When a butterfly lands on a potential food source, specialized chemoreceptors on its tarsi (feet) determine if the plant is suitable for laying eggs or if nectar is present. This allows them to 'taste' before feeding.
When threatened, these beetles mix two separate chemicals, hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide, in a special chamber. This triggers a violent exothermic reaction, producing a noxious, boiling-hot spray that can be accurately aimed and pulsed like a machine gun, deterring most attackers.
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a parasitic fungus, infects ants and manipulates their behavior, forcing them to climb high plants. Once in position, the fungus bursts from the ant's head, releasing spores to infect more unsuspecting victims below, completing its gruesome life cycle.
When a foraging bee discovers a rich nectar source, it returns to the hive and performs a specific dance. The direction and duration of the "waggle" part of the dance indicate the precise direction and distance of the food relative to the sun, guiding other bees to the location.
Their sole purpose is to find a mate, guided by the incredibly potent pheromones released by females, detectable from miles away. They live only a few days, relying on energy reserves accumulated as a caterpillar to complete their life cycle and reproduce.
Young spiders release fine silk threads into the wind, catching air currents and allowing them to drift long distances, sometimes even across oceans. This aerial dispersal method helps them colonize new habitats and avoid competition.
Flowers develop weak electric fields as a result of their natural negative charge and the positive charge of approaching bees. Bees can sense these fields, which helps them distinguish between visited and unvisited flowers.
Cockroaches can survive for an extended period without their heads because they breathe through spiracles on their bodies, and their blood pressure isn't dependent on a single major organ like a human heart. They ultimately die from starvation or dehydration.