Understory Enterprises Inc.

11/16/2025

The stunning Charmallaspis pulcherrima from Peru. These beetles come in a spectacular variety of colour from intense violet as seen there to emerald green, turquoise, bronze and more.

11/11/2025

This colourful Lantern fly is Phenax variagata. It has an extensive range throughout northern South America. It is extremely abundant throughout the Tarapoto - Moyobamba corridor in Peru. The waxy filaments protruding from the body are quite sticky and break off easily and is believed to be a form of defence. These filaments can be several cm long. I’m always amazed how the wings can fold so seamlessly over these filaments. Others have pointed out that these give these lantern flies the appearance of having been attacked by a Cordyceos fungus. To appear normal is abnormal in the invertebrate world.

11/10/2025

Beetle wings are most often not seen, unless in flight they remain folded and protected under the elytra. I think it’s nice to mount specimens with the wings spread as it exposes much more of the beetles anatomy.

11/07/2025

Cochlidium serrulatum - this little beauty tries hard to be my favourite fern. We have been growing a lot of this all year and will have plenty of nice full grown ferns available for export next year.

11/06/2025

Pecluma filicula. The first pictures show this fern growing in a terrarium and the second and third are of it growing in suture in San Martín, Peru.

11/04/2025

The curious world of beetles. We have a large selection of dried insects specimens that we are slowly adding to our website. Great for collectors, artisans and taxidermists. We can ship these worldwide. International checkout will be available early next year, for now interested parties from outside of Canada Can email us orders.

10/30/2025

10/30/2025

A few frogs from around the barn. Lots of breeding going on at the moment. We will be at the Ottawa Reptile and Plant Expo this weekend alongside with a huge selection of frogs, plants, entomological specimens, live inverts, terrarium plants, museum quality fossils, terrarium supplies and more! Hope to see many of you there. For tickets and other info reach out to the fine folks

10/29/2025

Holy smokessss. There are snakes in the Amazon, then there are these guys.

10/28/2025

A few of these will be available on our website soon.

09/26/2025

Hopefully see you tomorrow at this Orchid and Plant show and then Sunday in Peterbourough at the Central Ontario Reptil Expo.