Chaste fish doing fine
Ground-breaking research was recently published on the longevity and genetic integrity of the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), a clonal, parthenogenetic fish that defies the expectations of...
Nature file
Legless females hard to recognise
Legless females hard to recognise
This excellent photograph of native scale insects on leaves of a southern rata tree was taken by Dr Keith Probert, who also extracted some of the dark brown nymphs from their cases.
Parasitic wasps make it a bad day to be a spider
Parasitic wasps make it a bad day to be a spider
Dr Keith Probert took this excellent photograph of a bright red female spider wasp.
Freshwater clams threaten ecosystem
Freshwater clams threaten ecosystem
The gold clam, a southeast Asian freshwater mollusc bivalve shell, has been found in the Waikato River and elsewhere nearby.
Hoverflies may replace bees as crop pollinators
Hoverflies may replace bees as crop pollinators
Hoverflies may replace honeybees as crop pollinators, as bees decline.
Hoverflies may replace honeybees as crop pollinators
Hoverflies may replace honeybees as crop pollinators
Hoverflies may replace honeybees as crop pollinators, as bees decline.
Useful in a grisly way
Useful in a grisly way
I was recently asked to identify some interesting small beetles, 5mm long, with the legs, prothorax and shoulders of the wing cases red
Disguise master rarely seen
Disguise master rarely seen
The South Island lichen moth, Ipana egregia (family Geometridae, subfamily Ennominae), is one of our most beautiful and iconic insects.
Leaf dimple galls caused by mite
Leaf dimple galls caused by mite
Plant galls are very widespread on leaves.
Orange roughy must be taken off the menu
Orange roughy must be taken off the menu
Modern methods of oceanic fishing, with fishing fleets hauling kilometre-long nets, have caused the decline of numerous marine species, including orange roughy, writes Anthony Harris.
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Frosted phoenix moth rises
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Frosted phoenix moth rises
Last month, the frosted phoenix moth, an extraordinarily rare native moth hitherto thought to be extinct, was unwittingly rediscovered on a hotel balcony in Oban, Stewart Island, by a Swedish...
Why insects aren't successful at sea
Why insects aren't successful at sea
For well over 200 years, natural historians have been puzzled as to why insects, arguably the most successful terrestrial animals, are so rare in marine ecosystems.
Tiny hunting wasps seldom noticed
Tiny hunting wasps seldom noticed
Recently I was brought for identification tiny hunting wasps less than 3mm long, writes Anthony Harris.
Sending samples that will survive
Sending samples that will survive
Warm spring weather is delivering myriads of insects — mostly attractive and beneficial — and some are brought for identification, writes Anthony Harris.
Australian moth headed south
Australian moth headed south
Last week, I was sent from Christchurch a photograph of the grass-eating caterpillar of a recently introduced Australian moth. This is the blood-spotted noctuid moth Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta ...