Rainforest Publications' Fold-Out Pocket Field Guides are designed to slip into your pocket so that you can easily access our field guides and identify the flora and fauna you see while on your walks, hikes, and excursions through Costa Rica.

The illustrations on this fold-out field guide from Rainforest Publications were created by Costa Rican artist, Enrique C. Leal, who has worked as an illustrator in the design of informative and educational material for the National Board of Health and who has worked as a scientific illustrator for INBIO (Institute for Biological Diversity).

In most cases, the length in millimeters indicates the average maximum length of the insect from the rear of the abdomen to the front of the head not including antennae.

The illustration of each species on the field guide is accompanied by the name of the species in English, Spanish, and Latin. On the Rainforest Publications' Costa Rica insects field guide, the letters after the English name represent the distribution with Costa Rica:

  • A: insects typically found on the Atlantic side of Costa Rica, below 1500 meters; may be accompanied by N (north) or S (south);
  • P: insects typically found on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, below 1500 meters; may be accompanied by N (north) or S (south);
  • M: insects typically found in the Costa Rican mountains, above 1500 meters;
  • CV: insect typically found in the Costa Rican central valley.
illustration of Rhinocerous Beetle (c) 2008 Enrique C. Leal, all rights reserved
sample illustration
Rhinoceros Beetle
Strategus aloeus

Fold out pocket guides are approximately 24" by 8.75" (61 cm by 22 cm) when spread flat, and contain twelve 9 cm by 22 cm "pages" plus front and back cover pages. When folded, they are only approx. 3.5" by 8.75" (9 cm by 22 cm) and easily fit into your pocket.

image of one side of the Costa Rica Central Valley Birds field guide

One side of Rainforest Publications' Central Valley Birds Guide (spread flat).

Rainforest Publications gives donations for each guide sold to environmental and educational organizations. See our About Us page for a list of organizations that have benefited from the sales of our Field Guides.