Common name : Gisborne cockroach Scientific name : Drymaplaneta semivitta Family : Blattidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : After it was introduced to New Zealand, this cockroach was first discovered in the town of Gisborne, hence the name ‘Gisborne cockroach’. After it was introduced to New Zealand, this cockroach was first discovered in […]
Common name : New Zealand giraffe weevil Scientific name : Lasiorhynchus barbicornis Family : Brentidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : This particular insect has an extremely elongated snout, which resembles the neck of a giraffe, hence the name ‘giraffe beetle’. Almost 85 mm in length, the male stands taller than the female
Common name : Giant weta Scientific name : Deinacrida Family : Anostostomatidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : The giant weta is not so social as the other weta. Its scientific name means ‘fierce grasshopper’ in Greek. At least 10 cm only in body length, the giant weta weighs around 35 g. In
Common name : Toe-biter Scientific name : Belostomatidae Family : Belostomatidae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : In Asian cuisine, this insect is an extremely popular food. While most of the species of giant water bugs are about 2 cm in length, the lethocerus genus of this species is at least 12 cm
Common name : Giant katydid Scientific name : Stilpnochlora couloniana Family : Tettigoniidae Native to : Cuba Interesting fact : The largest of the tettigoniidae family, the giant katydid’s appearance resembles that of a large leaf. With an average size of 4-6 cm in length, many in this species grow as big as 15 cm
Common name : Japanese giant hornet Scientific name : Vespa mandarinia japonica Family : Vespidae Native to : Japan Interesting fact : The Japanese giant hornet is the world’s largest hornet. More than 4.5 cm in length, it has a wingspan of 6 cm. Their diet is comprised of varied insects, and also corn pests.
Common name : Bush giant dragonfly Scientific name : Uropetala carovei Family : Petaluridae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : In New Zealand, there is a specific name in the Maori language for this insect–kapokapowai, which means water snatcher; a name attached to the larvae of these insects. 86 mm in length, the
Common name : German wasp Scientific name : Vespula germanica Family : Vespidae Native to : Europe, North Africa and temperate parts of Asia Interesting fact : In spite of its name, this wasp is actually a native of England. About 13 mm in length, the German wasp is also popularly known as ‘yellow jacket’
Common name : German cockroach Scientific name : Blatella germanica Family : Blattellidae Native to : South-East Asia Interesting fact : This cockroach has been named ‘German cockroach’ because of the fact that it was initially mistakenly assumed to have originated in Europe. Hardly 1.6 cm in length, this tiny cockroach is tan to brownish
Common name : Garden soldier fly Scientific name : Exaireta spinigera Family : Stratiomyidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : This insect is given the name ‘soldier fly’ because of the family it belongs to. The word ‘stratiomyidae’ comes from Greek literally meaning ‘soldier fly’. The garden soldier fly is only 14 mm in length. It
Common name : Garden orbweb spider Scientific name : Eriophora pustulosa Family : Araneidae Native to : Australia, New Zealand Interesting fact : This spider has 5 clearly visible distinctive spines on its back. Varying vastly in size and length, the garden orbweb spider is a nocturnal hunter. It creates a circular web which is
Common name : Flower longhorn beetle Scientific name : Zorion spp. Family : Cerambycidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : Due to its size and shape, the flower longhorn beetle is very often mistaken for an ant. Only 5 mm in length, the flower longhorn beetle has antennas which are longer that its body. This
Common name : Flea Scientific name : Siphonaptera Family : Siphonaptera Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : Known as external parasites, fleas do not have wings, but are extremely agile and have mouths shaped-like tubes, so as to feed off their host. 3 mm in height, fleas are considered to be one of
Common name : Flax looper moth Scientific name : Orthoclydon praefactata Family : Geometridae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : Due to its special diet where it feeds only on flax leaves, this specific moth has been nicknamed ‘flax looper moth’. With a wingspan of 45 mm, the flax looper moths are sexually dimorphic,
Common name : Flatworm Scientific name : Platyhelminthes Family : Platyhelminthes Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : Unlike most other living creatures, the flatworms are invertebrates, which have no specialized respiratory organs; nor do they have more than 1 digestive cavity. They can only take in oxygen through the process of diffusion. Their