Insect communities of several neotropical paramos were compared using data from the literature and a sampling conducted at Cerro Chirripo, Costa Rica. A total of 8000 net sweeps yielded 144 morphospecies within 16 orders. Diptera was the order with most morphospecies (70) followed by Hymenoptera (23), Lepidoptera (18) and Coleoptera (15). Groups inhabiting humid microhabitats were more diverse. Adult nectarivores, and immature saprophages, herbivores and parasites were most abundant. Statistical analyses were unable to reject the hypothesis that the taxonomic composition is similar among Neotropical paramos.
