Insects classification in the Tequendama region

The results were registered in a country guide which its eight edition gives an account of the found species -reuniting several biological particularities due to the ambient heterogeneity, and the forest characteristics: wetlands, pastures and cultivations.

For several years, professors and students from the Natural Sciences Institute have been assembling a biodiversity description of the Tequendama region, together with the Granja Ecológica El Porvenir, a foundation in charge, among many other activities, of cloud forest conservation and ecological agricultural production.

"The insects from this region are not as gorgeous, nor as big as the ones from lower regions, but they constitute a great profusion of species", said Amat. Together with Cecilia Cantor, María Inés Moreno, Ingrid Catalina Romero, Daniela Martínez, from the Biology Department, and Daniel Cortés, from the Agronomy Faculty, they presented the findings grouped by species.

In that sense, the Diptera (flies, mosquitos), Coleoptera (beetles), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and Hymenoptera (wasps), are the most representative groups due to their variety and abundance. "We have found 80 species and we expect to find 50 more" said Professor Amat.

Among the species studied within the habitats (Andean forest, borders and clearings, cultivations and pastures) were found the Sympetrum gilvum and the Rhionaeschna sp (dragonflies); the Rugosolibethra sp (stick-bugs), Graphosoma  and, Acanthosoma sp (shield bugs), and Reduviidae (assassin bug).

Likewise, were found Cicadellidae (leafhoppers), Cicadoidea (cicadas), beetles: Euphoria sp, Sphaenognathus (stag beetle); weevils:Compsus sp, Rhodobaenus sp.; ichneumon wasps Ichneumonidae; Bombus sp (bumblebee).

Finally, Mutillidae (velvet ant), Syrphus (hoverflies) and a great variety of butterflies: Patricia dercyllidas, Colias dimera, Leptophobia aleone, Pteronymia ticida, Oleria radina, Antanassaca. Drusilla, Perisama oppelli Amalia among many others.

The UN"s study was positively received by the farm director, who showed her interest in maintaining the work with the Natural Sciences Institute, the ecological program and the production of the region"s fauna and flora knowledge in order to recuperate and conserve the ecosystem.