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What's Bugg'n You! Invertebrates comprise the
majority of all living animals on our planet. We have a love-hate
relationship
They pollinate the plants that produce our food, they bite and sting us, they invade and sometimes eat our homes!! But at the end of the day we would be in serious trouble without the vast number of insect species that share our planet with us. Rain Forest Adventures is home to some really creepy looking bugs as well as their eight legged distant relatives the arachnids. Since our insect and arachnid collection varies from season to season be prepared to see almost anything!!
Range: Madagascar Habitat: Moist regions of Madagascar Natural Diet: Vegetation , fruit and some protein Diet at RainForest: Vegetable matter , supplemented with cat food. Size: 2-4"' Rainforest Facts: Fossil records indicate the cockroach has been on earth for at least 350 million years, these incredibly successful creatures live in all warm regions of the world. Contrary to popular myth the cockroach does not spread disease, but is capable of producing allergic reactions in certain people. The Madagascar hissing cockroach appears to give birth to live babies, in fact the female retains the eggs in her body and allows them to develop there. Known for their ability to make an audible noise the hissing roach is now commonly kept as a pet! Status in Wild: Stable
Range: Brazil Habitat: Forested Regions Natural Diet: Vegetation , fruit and some protein Diet at RainForest: Vegetable matter , supplemented with cat food Size: 2-4"' Status in Wild: Stable
Range: India Habitat: Dense RainForest Natural Diet: Insects Diet at RainForest: Crickets Size: 3-6"' Status in Wild: Declining due to loss of habitat
Range: Chili, South America Habitat: Desert Regions Natural Diet: Insects, small vertebrates Diet at RainForest: Crickets, cockroaches Size: 2-4"' Females are substantially larger than males. Females are capable of living for over 20 years, males average approximately 4-5 years. Status in Wild: Stable, however continued pressure may result in a serious decline in wild populations. This spider is still imported in very large numbers for the pet trade. Captive breeding of this species of Tarantula is rare given the inexpensive cost of wild caught animals.
Range: Africa Habitat: Forest regions Natural Diet: Insects Diet at RainForest: Crickets Size: 2-4"' RainForest Facts: Common belief holds that the scorpion is a deadly animal, Hollywood and urban myths have perpetuated this belief. The truth is the sting of the vast majority of scorpions is equivalent to a bee sting. While there are a handful of scorpions capable of delivering a serious sting, they are generally not found in close proximity to human habitation. Status in Wild: Stable
RainForest Adventures zoo, Smoky Mountains, Tennessee near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge TN |
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with
most insects, arachnids and other creepy crawlies. 
