Aotearoa is home to over 20,000 species of insects and spiders.

The Entomological Society of New Zealand ran a competition to find the best bug of 2023.

And the winner is

Ngaro Huruhuru – Native Bee (Leioproctus fulvescens)

#BugOfTheYear2023
#bugs

https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/

Another ngaro huruhuru (NZ native bee) seen in my garden 😊

I have a few patches of lawn that I’ve let grow really long, and these little yellow flowers* are a favourite of these tiny bees.

I also have planted wildflower pollinator blends, but I only ever see bumble bees and honey bees in those. In my garden these native bees seem to prefer a patch of lawn gone wild.

#NZBugOfTheYear #BugOfTheYear2023 #bugoftheyear

* similar but smaller than a dandelion flower, might be hawksbeard or catsear

We all love to vote for someone right? Ever voted for a bug?
Here's your chance. There are just 24 nominees from Aotearoa's 20,000 species of insects and spiders.
There are photos of these on the site to inspire your choice.
Winner announced 14th Feb.
Going to be a hard choice.
#BugOfTheYear2023
#bugs
#insects
#aotearoa

https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/

A Lady New Zealand Praying Mantis has priorities!

This is a reminder to think about voting in the inaugural #New Zealand #BugOfTheYear2023

The native NZ Praying mantis loves flies #nomnom

Vote #TeamMantis

https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/

#EatPrayLove #Entomology #BugsAreGreat #NZento #biodiversity #Scicomm #memestodon #NZbugs

I missed the annual conference this year but I won't miss voting for #BugOfTheYear2023

Torn between the two insects with a freshwater life stage and the sole arachnid, I voted #1 for Kapowai

Vote now here: https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz

iNaturalist image © Geoff Marshall