Conserving Insects, Strengthening communities
Found in Chocamán. Endangered in the United States.
Since 2018, a local naturalist named Ignacio has been documenting insects in Chocamán — uploading photos to iNaturalist from his phone, with no funding, out of pure curiosity.
Micratena found his records, invited him to field surveys in Tlachinoltepetl Natural Protected Area, and systematized over 240 research-grade observations. Cross-referencing each species against conservation databases revealed something remarkable: two species — Cocytius antaeus and Syssphinx raspa — are listed as endangered in the United States. Both were documented right here.
They are now part of the Chocamán Insect Field Guide — the first printed insect guide for this cloud forest region.
In Mexico — and especially in small municipalities like Chocamán — insects have been seen for generations as a nuisance, a problem to eliminate. But without insects, there is no food on our tables. Without them, we would live buried in unrecycled waste. Without them, there is no humanity.
Micratena exists because someone has to say it out loud.
Discover the Biodiversity of Veracruz
Get a professional preview of our field guide and explore the unique insects of Mexico’s Cloud Forests, documented by Micratena in Chocamán, Veracruz.
Documenting and protecting native insect populations in Tlachinoltepetl Natural Protected Area, Chocamán, Veracruz.→ See our project.
Developing black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) pilot essays using locally collected individuals as a sustainable farming alternative. → See our project.
Reclaiming the tradition of eating insects as an essential protein source — bridging indigenous knowledge with environmental education to highlight the nutritional value of native insects in Veracruz and Mexico. → See our project.
Community Voices
Insect perception surveys conducted in Chocamán, Veracruz.
Community Science
Research grade records contributed by the Chocamán community.
Field Guide
Insect field guide produced for Chocamán, Veracruz.
Entomo-Agriculture
Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) essays with locally collected individuals.
