iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Big Booty Wasps! 🍑 One of the most interesting genus of wasps are the ant-parasitising Orasema! Their larvae seeks out and hitches a ride on an ant into their nest, before dropping off and inserting itself into an ant larvae where it then proceeds to EAT IT ALIVE… NATURE! 🐜🤯

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

My photo vs AI SLOP! You CANT tell the difference anymore! 😤 It is so SUFFOCATING to watch social media be filled with deceptive AI that is drawing attention away from real photographers and REAL stories trying to be told about wildlife! It is so DANGEROUS for conservation! 🕷️

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

DRAGON BUG! 🐉🤯 One of the most INCREDIBLE bugs on earth, Phrictus are so rare to see because they usually live in the canopy! 🌳 After a year in the Amazon this is my first time seeing these bugs and my heart was pounding! 😵 There is still SO much to learn about this genus! 💯

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Honoured to be named a finalist for the Better Homes & Gardens Creator Awards 2026 in the Wildlife Guardian & Animal Educator category. Grateful to be named alongside inspiring creators who are helping shine a light on the importance of protecting our wildlife. 🐝🌿 GO BUGS! 🪲

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

YESSSSSSSS!!!! I FOUND ONE OF THE BEST BUTTERFLIES IN THE WORLD AHHHHHHHH!!!! 🤯😭 Caria plutargus amazonica I’m CRYING!! 🦋

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

THE COOLEST CATERPILLAR! 🐛🥰

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

PURPLE NUDI! 💜 The Red-lined Flabellina has a VERY SPECIAL TRICK! 🪼 They feed on minuscule hydroids/jellyfish and are able to digest their stinging cells and pass them through to the long projections on their back. They can then FIRE those stinging cells as their own defence! 🤯

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

MORPHO!!! 🦋😍 It is always the BEST feeling finding these fairies in the rainforest! 🌿 A quick catch and release of Morpho achilles, an absolute gem of the Amazon! 💎

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Beautiful Clearwing from this morning! 🥰🦋 What a stunning butterfly! ✨

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Two Beetle Friends! 🥰❤️

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

NOOOOO WAYYYYY! 🤯 Dream come true, a Caria trochilus! Very rare & very PRETTY butterfly! 😍

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

BUG HIGHLIGHTS from the first Bug Review episode out now! 🪲🦋

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Check out this FLUFFY beauty! 🤩🦋 Introducing you to Sarota chrysus, one of the most stunning butterflies in the world! 🌈 Seeing this is one of the highlights of my year! 🥰 See how we found this incredible butterfly in our first episode of the Bug Review! ✨

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

EVERYONE WE ARE LIVE WITH OUR FIRST EPISODE!!!! 🤩🦋🪲🐝 Learn all about bugs with our new series the Bug Review! youtu.be/8fflfC7F6VE

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

LOVE LOVE FIDDLER BEETLES!!

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

YESSSSSS CICADAS ARE THE BEST!

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Show me your best bug of 2025! 🪲🎆 Another big year comes to an end and we found over 1000 different bug species between the Amazon & Australia! 🤯 Probably my favourite was this Giant Amazon Silkmoth from Peru! 🦋 I'm keen to see what beauties you guys found this year! 🥰🐝🐞

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Bro is LOCKED IN! 🤠 Check this out! An inseparable mating pair of Leaf Mantids (Pseudoxyops perpulchra) from Ecuador! 💚 That small male at the back is hanging on for dear life! We all know what the female will do if she gets the chance! 😅😈

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

The Mimic Poison Frog! 🥰🐸 One of the world’s most special frogs, Ranitomeya imitator lives up to its name and mimics other Dart Frogs that are more toxic! 😮☠️ In this case here in the Peruvian rainforest it’s mimicking Ranitomeya summersi, a beautiful yellow & black frog! 💛🖤

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

TRILOBITE BEETLES!!! 😍🌿 Some of the coolest bugs in Asia’s rainforests are these female Lycid Beetles, that look like they’re from prehistoric ages!😱🦕 They retain their larval form as adults and feed on decaying matter in the leaf litter of the forest! 🍂 I get goosebumps every time I see them! 😁

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Everyones favourite bees! 🐝 Did you know Australia has over 20+ species of Blue-banded Bees? 🥰 They are all so important for pollination of native flowers and are one of the main factors in our eco-systems being healthy! 🌳🌸 Make sure you are planting natives in your garden to attract these bees! 🌱🌼

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

ENOOOOORMOUS SNAIL!? 🤯🐌 PLEASE meet the Giant Amazon Land Snail (Megalobulimus popelairianus)! 🧡 These guys are the HEAVIEST terrestrial land snail and are just an all-round extraordinary critter! It was an absolute HONOUR bumping into this one on the beautiful paths of Maquipucuna’s forest! 🌳✨

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Reposted by Nick Volpe

Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

These tarantulas are covered in urticating hairs, something that @nvolpe.bsky.social and @lucynak.bsky.social learned the hard way... The tarantula does not need to kick its urticating hairs for them to lift off. A small blow of air is enough to do that as well, so always be cautious around them!

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

MEET MR. MOSSY WEEVIL! 😍👋 This is the most ADORABLE little beetle strutting its mossy stuff around the Amazon! 🌳 LOOK at those adorable little antennas! 🥹💚 Measuring in at one centimetre long, I believe it is in the genus Ulocerus and it is another little GEM found at Manu Biological Station! 🪲💎

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Woohoo! 😁 Last night Lucy and I braved the rain in Phuket to find this incredible Whip Scorpion (Catageus sp.) in the rainforest! 🌳 These incredible arachnids live and hunt on the massive boulder systems in the forest, scattering around like they are almost part of the rock!🪨

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

What a BEAUTY! 🤩 The Rothschildia Silkmoths from the neotropics are some of the most beautiful insects in the world! 🌳🦋 With over 30 species attaining a massive wingspan, they are absolute jewels to see in the dense rainforest! 💎 This one was found at around 1400m in elevation on Manu road in Peru!🌿

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Pumpkin Patch Tarantula!🕷️🎃 One of the most incredible spiders in the world, this Tarantula (Hapalopus sp.) lives in the Ecuadorian Amazon!🌳 When people think of Tarantulas, we mainly think of large, plain coloured spiders, but in the neotropics we enter a world of colour!🧡🖤

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

The Blue Spotted Beauty! 😍🔵 One of the most STUNNING fish in the world, the Blue-spotted Fantail Ray has electric blue spots as a warning sign to predators of its venomous tail spines⚡ These rays patrol the sandy floors at night looking for crustacean and fish snacks! 🦀

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

It’s currently Australian Pollinator Week, where we celebrate our important pollinators!🐝 These bees are ecosystem heroes and found in every Australian street and it’s our job to protect them!🫡 🇦🇺 Keep planting native trees & say no to pesticides to keep native bees thriving!☀️

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

The Tiny Bees Powering Giant Eucalyptus Trees! 🐝🌳 Australia's best superheroes are often overlooked! ⭐ Euryglossinae Bees are only found in Australia where over 400 species are pollinating Eucalyptus trees every day! 👊🌸 The catch? They are TINY! Only 3-8mm big! 🤯 (1/2)

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Thanks to @wizentrop.bsky.social for letting us know about their incredible specific diet!

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Orchid-eating Mossy Stick Insect (Taraxippus sp.) 💚 Another couple of photos of this all so incredible phasmid! 🌿 They live in the dense montane forests of South and Central America where they ONLY feed on orchids, making them even rarer to see in the forest! 🌸

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

NO WAYYYY! 🤯🤯🤯 Is this the COOLEST stick insect ever?? 💚 This mossy girl (Taraxippus sp.) from Peru was the most incredible phasmid I have ever seen, I could not get over how perfectly camouflaged it was on the mossy trees! 🌳 So in awe of our natural world! 🌿

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Bugs of the steamy Mayan Jungle! 🌳🇲🇽 A collage of our BEST BUG finds from staying at @h2ojostulum in Tulum! 🦂🕷️ Who is your favourite bug from here? 🤩 Mine is the Yucatan Red-rumpled Tarantula! 🖤🧡 I wish we could spend more time in the future in Mexico, there is so much diversity to uncover! 📸

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

WHAT A SPIDER!!! 🤯🤯 BEHOLD, one of the coolest arachnids in the world, the Long-horned Spiny Orb Spider (Macracantha arcuata)! 🕷😍 Found in the rainforests of SE Asia, these magnificent beasts are found usually at head-height in a web they’ve made to catch flying prey!🐞🕸️

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

We are doing great!! Hope you are too!! ☺️

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

One of the most IMPRESSIVE snakes I’ve ever seen was this amazing 2m long Oxybelis fulgidus in Ecuador 🌳😍 The speed on these arboreal snakes is intimidating, as they use their rear-fanged toxic saliva to chase down birds, mammals and other reptiles in the treetops! 🐍⭐️

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

WHAT A BUG! 🤩❤️ Perfectly camouflaged in the mossy cloud forests of South America, this Lanternfly (Diareusa conspersa) flashes its bright red spotted underwings if disturbed! 🔥 This threat display is to make it look bigger and more menacing so predators like birds think twice! 🦜⁉️

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

It literally has ALL the cool stuff

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

An ALIEN on earth!? 🤯👽 CHECK OUT this insane Treehopper from the Peruvian Amazon! 🌳 Membracids are known for their bizarre shapes and protrusions, but this genus goes to a whole new level! It is thought this crazy C shape is to aid in camouflage to avoid predation from birds! 🐦😳

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

CYCLOPTERA!! 😍💚 The big leafy dream! 🍃 One of the most incredible leaf mimics in the Amazon, Cycloptera speculata is one special katydid! 🌳 Camouflaging as your food is one of the smartest ideas, especially when you’re so BIG! We were SO happy to see this BEAUTIFUL BUG!! 🤩

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

PONGO BOY!! 😍🐸 One of the most beautiful Poison Dart Frogs, Ameerega pongoensis is endemic to the San Martín & Loreto regions of Peru! 🌳🇵🇪 The yellow and blues on this guy are INCREDIBLE! 💛💙 An absolute highlight of our trip with @andes2amazon.expeditions ✨

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

Dead leaf or BUTTERFLY!? 🤯🍂 Zaretis sp. from the Peruvian Amazon! 🦋 This one got very comfortable on our sweaty clothes and hands! 😅 So lucky!

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

WHAT A BUTTERFLY! 🤯❤️🖤 One of the most striking insects in the world, the amazing Blood Red Skipper is found in the Amazon rainforest! 🌳 The males are this bold red & black colour whilst females adorn a similar pattern but with most of the wings shining white! 😮 JUST WOWWWWW! 😍🦋💅

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

UFO LEAF MANTIS!? 🤯💚🛸 How CRAZY is this Choeradodis stalli boy from the Amazon!! 🌳 Looking EXACTLY like a leaf, he can stay hidden from predators whilst also catching any unsuspecting insect prey! 🦗👀 An absolute honor to run into this spectacular critter!!🤩

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Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

We won't neglect you buddy! 🥹🦋 One of the most beautiful butterflies here at Manu Biological Station is the Neglected Eighty-eight, that is a little ray of sunshine every time you see it!☀️ This group of butterflies is named 88 because of the numeric pattern on its wings! 8️⃣8️⃣

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