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We kick off 2026 with exciting news about Mashpi science — from new exhibition displays in our very own laboratory to studies on groups little-known to science. Watch our video and read on to discover the latest developments in our reserve.
MashpiLab: Education, Science and the Art of Insect Display
We are thrilled to share that we recently renovated Mashpi Lodge’s Science Laboratory. This refurbishment and renewal optimizes the space and strengthens its educational and interpretive role, creating a more immersive experience for our guests.
The first section of the laboratory now functions as a museum space, displaying specimens from our permanent collection organized into major groups such as Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, among others. This new layout allows guests to better understand the extraordinary diversity of arthropods inhabiting the cloud forest and to appreciate the scientific value behind each specimen.
The transformation of the laboratory was made possible thanks to the incorporation of biologist Esteban Calvache into the permanent Research & Biology team. A specialist in arachnids, Esteban has collaborated with Mashpi Lodge since 2023 through courses, field collections and the establishment of spider monitoring plots in the reserve. He is also an associate researcher at the National Institute of Biodiversity (INABIO) and a founding member of the Ecuadorian Entomological Society (SEE).
“I aim to highlight the ecological role of arthropods through environmental interpretation and educational content. I’m passionate about bringing this fascinating — and often invisible — world closer to our guests, helping them better appreciate the biodiversity that sustains the forest.”
Esteban Calvache
Myriapods in Mashpi: Life Beneath the Leaf Litter
We recently hosted Daniela Martínez from the National University of Colombia and Hans Reip from the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (Germany), who initiated a study on the diversity of myriapods — centipedes and millipedes — in the cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador.
Although often overlooked and scarcely studied, these organisms play an essential role in decomposition and nutrient cycling, processes that sustain forest life. During their visit, the researchers conducted sampling in leaf litter, decomposing logs and moist soils, applying standardized methodologies. They also shared knowledge with the local team through training in identification and curation techniques, strengthening scientific capacity within the reserve.
We are sure that this project will provide key data for regional entomological studies, including the potential description of new species for science and the establishment of a baseline to assess changes in communities across altitudinal gradients and climate variations.
Interinstitutional collaborations are fundamental to advancing scientific knowledge. In this context, Mashpi Lodge reaffirms its role as a strategic hub for fostering partnerships that contribute to the study and conservation of soil biodiversity in the Chocó Andino.
Opiliones Inventory at Mashpi-Tayra Reserve
Since early 2026, we have developed a new project focused on the inventory and documentation of harvestmen (Opiliones), led by Adriano Kury, a researcher at the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro. This research contributes to understanding and protecting the insect biodiversity of our reserve.
Harvestmen, arachnids distinct from spiders — omnivores who lack a “waist,” venom and silk — play key roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling and can therefore serve as indicators of ecosystem health. Through systematic sampling and scientific analyses, the project aims to describe new species and update distribution records. It also strengthens local scientific training through collaboration with researchers, students, and our naturalist guides.
By documenting this diversity, we continue contributing to the knowledge of invertebrates in our reserve, which, as we have seen, is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.
This month, we focused on insects, a field of study that continues to raise new questions and expand our understanding of the forest. Exploring this universe reminds us how much remains to be discovered and how knowledge is continuously built at Mashpi-Tayra Reserve.
Follow #MashpiScience to keep up with all the discoveries and stories from our reserve!
