April

The kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra), or Lupuna, as it is locally called, is one of the biggest emergent trees in the Amazon rainforest. Kapoks can reach sizes of up to 60-70 meters. These trees loose their leaves entirely at the beginning of the dry season, between March and May.
Their white flowers attract a variety of insects, but bats are thought to be the most important pollinator for this species. As there are no leaves in the canopy, access to the flowers for pollinators is enhanced. When these flowers fall to the ground, they produce a nice smelling carpet on the forest floor. The extension of this carpet gives a good idea of the size of the tree´s canopy. The name “kapok” comes from the light colored fibers that protect the dark seeds.

There are approximately 50 species of cicadas (new order Hemiptera) in Tambopata, but only one of them builds a very impressive type of nest. While walking on the trails during the rainy season until April we should see from tens to hundreds of almost 30 or 40 cm tall towers of clay on the forest ground. These columns are produced by the nymphs of this cicada species.
The female cicadas lay their eggs near the base of a tree. The eggs then develop into a nymph with very strong front feet adapted to dig under ground. A nymph is the immature form of some insect species, which undergo a gradual metamorphosis before reaching its adult stage. There is no pupal stage between the nymph and the adult. The system of tunnels under the ground can reach one meter or even more! In addition to the column above the ground that the nymphs build a few days before reaching the adult stage. These nymphs will leave the darkness of the ground after months or even years.
Cicadas are common, but cicada nymphs are difficult to find, as this stage occurs under de ground. During these weeks it is also common to find skins of these cicada nymphs. This is a great opportunity to see first hand the drastic change in morphology of these insects. We can see nymphs are wingless but with great front limbs to dig their tunnels. Whereas adult cicadas on the other side are big 5 cm winged bugs that make a loud noise using sacs of air inside a resonance box in their thorax. And cicadas are well accompanied by hundreds of other cicadas when doing this noise….

The 20th of April is the anniversary of the Native Community of Infierno, our partner in Posada Amazonas. The community members celebrate in the center of the community with a big party and a soccer championship! The Community was founded in 1975 and owns 10,000 hectares. It has about 600 members. Posada Amazonas is located on the 3,000 hectares communal private reserve, further upriver.