angelasimpson's Favorites

In a rather bizarre encounter, these two spiders were copulating only a few cm away from two stick insects (Tectarchus spp.), also copulating (See second image).

Follow this link for an observation about the stick insects:
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/8408850

The spiders chose a vertical 69 position, the male with his back against the tree trunk, both spiders hanging off silk strands.

According to Cor Vink's "Spiders of New Zealand", H. maoricus is the only species of Hypodrassodes found in the South Island.

This is a sparrow found outside lincoln New World New Zealand. The this is it has a seriously large beak and i dont think its natural for them to have this however it looks like it is healthy and well and i have seen it over the last few months now.

Herbarium specimen (and both seed and DNA voucher - specimen lodged in AK (AK 356535) with duplicate in NSW) of kahikatoa (Leptospermum scoparium s.s. (var. scoparium) - least ways based on my interpretation of the Forster type from Dusky Sound). Note the small, ovate, sparingly hairy leaves with sharply acute (pungent) apices, and short leafy brachyblasts, and small capsules almost obscured by the foliage. This is the main 'race' of kahikatoa found in the uplands of the North Island, becoming more common in the southern North Island, and dominant in the South island and Stewart Island. Similar forms occur in Tasmania.

Leaf mines and leaf rolls with pupae from an undescribed lepidoptera that mines the leaves of Teucridium parvifolium. Brian Patrick collected some of the pupae and mines for rearing.

This is a remarkable find (made by Brian Patrick) as Teucridium parvifolium is the only plant this moth is known to feed on and this is the only individual of Teucridium parvifolium currently known from Rakaia Island.