Scalesia Forest Invertebrates, Galapagos

The Scalesia forests are a place where it’s worth looking closely. An attentive eye and ear can discover a world that exists on a tiny scale, where a huge and unique array of invertebrates make a living under the undergrowth, in the cracks of the tree bark and on the branches of the trees.

The first creature I notice is the Galapagos land snail (Bulimulus spp). This small tropical mollusc is small, only about one inch (2.5cm) long, but is endemic to these islands. This one sports a beautiful spirally conical shell coloured in graceful lines of black and light brown, but the shells of Galapagos snails are incredibly diverse, some bulbous, some long, some conical. They also have a brilliant mating ritual, where the two snails wave their tentacles at each other in an alluring, ritualistic dance.

Then, I hear a soft buzzing near my ear. I turn and see a Galapagos carpenter bee (Xylocopa darwini), a large, solitary bee species that resembles a black bumble bee. These are one of the few native bee species on the island, and they receive their name for their ability to burrow into the soft wood of the scalesia trees, which they do to create a safe shelter to raise their young. Carpenter bees are essential pollinators, without whom many of the larger plant species on the islands would be unable to reproduce. Unfortunately, carpenter bees are threatened by the huge colonies of invasive domestic honey bees, which can use their large numbers to bully the carpenter away from its pollination sites.

I’ve enjoyed watching the scalesia forest’s invertebrate life, but one specimen makes me want to quit. It’s the large, slithering Darwin’s giant centipede. A black body, with tens of bright red legs, the centipede clacks as it walks, its antenna constantly feeling out for prey. The thing is almost 20in (50cm) long, making it one of the largest centipedes in the world, and feeds on the smaller reptiles, as well as birds and rodents, immobilising its prey with its venom-dripping mandibles. The bite is not fatal to humans, but it is very painful, and it is widely feared by the island’s permanent residents, who advise tourists to give it a wide berth. No worries there!

It’s been nice to give a little attention to some of the more overlooked animals on these islands. Spending time with these creepy crawlies has given me a new appreciation for the vast and colourful world underneath my feet, and the vital role they play in the great interdependent web of the Galapagos ecosystem.