paddy18's Favorites

Stewart Island

Approx 120mm long - by far the biggest one I have ever seen!

An adult female large spiny stick insect. It's the longest insect in New Zealand

Several males found in small patch (1sq m) of leaf litter in back yard

Lovely moths! Finishing off 2023 in Dansey's Pass, which has a great variety of habitats for Lepidoptera. All moths drawn to UV light.

Found stomping across the floor of our homestay. These beetles turn up infrequently and in the most unlikely places, but regularly enough to indicate they are established here.

At night on a damp clay bank.

With Saryu Mae (invertebratist) and Zachary Robertson (fiestykakapo)

Chinchimollo

Damp wet night, around 8 degrees, Observed at Night

16 pairs of legs. Feeding on an ant I think. Quite small so might be a juvenile.

I have no idea what is needed to key out stick insects which is why I went a bit ham on the photos

Found in morning on Deck

On banks of Fleming River, in the Forest And Bird Lenz Reserve, Tautuku. The Karearea had just caught a male mallared and was in the process of eating it.

Ooperipatellus viridimaculatus

Basking in tussock

Mokopirirakau "southern forest"

Was sitting right out in the open next to the road on a kānuka twig. They really should be known as the bear weevil.

Found in standing dead tree

Found at night, inside a decaying standing red beech tree

Found at night, beneath a decaying red beech log