Venetia

For a little bit of joy amidst the gloom, I voted in New Zealand Bug of the Year 2025. You could too! https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/

My three votes went to:

1. Ngāokeoke (NZ Velvet Worm) https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/2024-bug-of-the-year-nominees/ngaokeoke-nz-velvet-worm/

2. Giant Springtail https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/2025-bug-of-the-year-nominees/giant-springtail/

3. Powelliphanta | Giant Ground Snail https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/2025-bug-of-the-year-nominees/powelliphanta-giant-ground-snail/

Thanks to @joncounts for boosting @frankashwood's springtail promos by way of encouragement 😊

#BugOfTheYear
#BugOfTheYear2025
#BugsAndCrittersOfAotearoa

New Zealand Bug of the Year

Jan 13, 2025 at 5:06amWeb
Show threadFrank AshwoodJan 13, 2025
@v_for_verbosity @joncounts thanks for your support!!
Show threadRaj Patel Jan 13, 2025

@v_for_verbosity @joncounts @frankashwood

Nice! Thanks for the reminder.
I had no idea NZ had a trapdoor spider. Also the camo pattern on the Ātaka (aka Exquisite Olearia Owlet) needs to be turned into a fabric!

Show threadJon SullivanJan 13, 2025
@irix @v_for_verbosity @frankashwood True! A lot of NZ moths have incredible patterns that would look amazing as fabric (and wallpapers).
Show threadVenetiaJan 13, 2025
@irix I have a friend who once returned to her Strathmore (Wellington) home from an overseas trip to find a large spider that looked awfully like that in her bedroom - hiding under her pillow 😳
@joncounts @frankashwood
Show threadRaj Patel Jan 13, 2025
@v_for_verbosity @joncounts @frankashwood Eeeeeep!
Show threadAndy Linton 🇮🇪  ✅Jan 13, 2025

@v_for_verbosity @joncounts @frankashwood I spotted one of these at the top of Moore's Valley a few weeks ago so it got my vote.

https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/ro-new-zealand-giant-stick-insect/

Rō | New Zealand Giant Stick Insect – New Zealand Bug of the Year

Show threadVenetiaJan 13, 2025
@artnacrea that one was fourth on my list 😊 @joncounts @frankashwood
Show threadBill TschumyJan 13, 2025

@v_for_verbosity @DrNic @joncounts @frankashwood I’m a bit disappointed that the New Zealand Entomological Society is referring to any of these as “bugs”. Entomologists consider bugs to be insects in the order Hemiptera (which have sucking mouthparts).

The worst is labeling a snail as a bug. Whole different phylum.

#insects #entomology

Show threadVenetiaJan 13, 2025

@btschumy the first entry in their FAQ addresses that 🙂
https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/why-bug-of-the-year/

"Most entomologists will correct you if you try to substitute the term “bug” when describing an insect or spider. In fact, a “bug” is technically only one type of insect (insects in the Order Hemiptera ...)."

"We assure you – those of us on the 2023 Bug Of The Year committee spent hours discussing and arguing about this ..."
@DrNic @joncounts @frankashwood

Frequently Asked Questions – New Zealand Bug of the Year

Show threadBill TschumyJan 13, 2025

@v_for_verbosity @DrNic @joncounts @frankashwood I’m glad they at least argued about it. If they didn’t want to exclude spiders they could have gone with “Arthropod of the Year”, but then most folks wouldn’t have a clue what they were talking about.

Anyway, thanks for pointing out the FAQ.

Show threadJon SullivanJan 13, 2025

@btschumy @v_for_verbosity @DrNic @frankashwood Yes, you make a good point. I can imagine the long debate over “bug” versus Invertebrate. I guess the precedent had already been set by the NZ Bird of the Year being won by the short-tailed bat in 2021. 😄

https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/resources/holy-flying-mammals-batman-bird-year-winner-announced

Holy flying mammals Batman! Bird of the Year winner announced

A bat has won New Zealand’s 2021 Bird of the Year/Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau.  This is the first time New Zealand’s only land mammal has been included in Forest & Bird’s annual contest, and it has flown away with the title. 

Show threadBill TschumyJan 13, 2025

@joncounts @v_for_verbosity @DrNic @frankashwood Oh my word! I hadn’t heard about the bat bird. What a hoot!

Maybe the insect folks should have gone with “creepy-crawly of the year”.