The Entomological Society of New Zealand is proud to launch the second ever Bug of the Year 2024 competition with 20 incredible nominees vying for the top spot. Learn more about the nominees before you vote!

Who will steal the crown from the ngaro huruhuru native bee?

Voting is open through 12 Feb 2024

Eight charming bugs who deserve your love - Article from the Spinoff that prompted this post

https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/identification/what-is-this-bug/monarch-caterpillar/

It's that time of year again, when the kids (and myself) get overly invested in the lifecycle of these grubs. Last year we managed maybe a 10% success rate (from egg to butterfly) hopefully we'll do better this time round.

http://soilbugs.massey.ac.nz/pseudoscorpions.php

Pictured here crawling along my shorts. Apparently they'll attach themselves to flys and other flying insects to grab a ride off to other places.

Had heard people talking about "bluebottles" spoiling beach trips further up the coast, and there were loads of these at Lyall bay yesterday (we weren't there to swim so nothing spoiled).

Where I'm from bluebottles are a large fly but reading on Wikipedia these are actually the same species as the famous Portuguese Man O'War (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_man_o'_war).

New Zealand Giant Stick Insect - Argosarchus horridus

Was visited by this not so wee one yesterday. Never seen a stick insect this big outside of the zoo - was probably close to 18cm long (judging size against weatherboards).

My daughter named it Dave.

Rocket Lab launched its first flight of its Electron rocket since a failure on Sept. 19. The 42nd mission for the small-satellite launcher lifted off on Dec. 15 from New Zealand during at about 1705 NZDT (0405 UTC or 11:05 p.m. EST).

Launched today from the Mahia Peninsula (Hawke's Bay). Lift off is around the 35 minute mark of the linked video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLwTLqaCnQ8&t=3)

Posting here, and not in politics, as a heads up for people who might need to adjust travel plans for tomorrow morning (if you want to discuss the politics around this then maybe a separate thread in the politics community would be best)

Protest locations and times:

Whangarei: Starting at New World, 7am.

Tāmaki Makaurau: Starting at Albany Garden Centre, 7am.

Tāmaki Makaurau: Starting at Hobsonville Rd, Brigham Rd intersection, 7am.

Tāmaki Makaurau: Starting at BP Bombays, 7am.

Waikato: Talbot St, Rangiriri, 6am. Rangiriri Pā, 7am.

Waikato: Hamptom Downs, 7am.

Waikato: Ohinewai Hall, 7am.

Tauranga: Starting at Whareroa Reserve, 6:30am.

Rotorua: Starting at the events centre, 7am.

Hawera Town Sq, 7am.

New Plymouth: Starting at Cob and Co car park, 7am.

Tokoroa: Youth Park, 6am.

Wairarapa: Queen St, Masterton, 9am.

Porirua: Mall, 7am.

Wellington: The Tce bridge, 7am.

Ōtautahi: The Bridge of Rememberance, 5:30pm.

Waihopai: Starting at 101 Esk St, 5pm.

Pretty shit for the staff, but honestly not surprising if they're charging $10 for a basic egg sandwich.