Photos / Sounds
What
New Zealand Geoduck (Panopea zelandica)Observer
camkayDescription
Geoduck shells on Onetangi Beach, Waiheke Island, NZ.
Found after a storm.
Seven left hand shells and one right hand shell were found - a similar L:R bias to Geoduck shells found after a 2006 storm, as detailed in “Geoduck riddle at Ohope” (B. Howard & M. Morley, 2009).
I have found dozens of old Toheroa shells on Onetangi, but these are the first Geoduck shells.
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What
Genus SalsaObserver
camkayDescription
Location: NZ, AK, Ellerslie
Active during day time
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What
Red-mouthed Whelk (Cominella virgata)Observer
camkayDescription
Location: NZ, AK, Waiheke, Onetangi
Very hard, orange fan shaped.... things on inside of shell.
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What
Eucalyptus Tortoise Beetle (Paropsis charybdis)Observer
camkayDescription
Location: NZ, AK, Ellerslie, Waiatarua Reserve
Habitat: Found on eucalypt leaf on ground
Seemed quite large, about 1cm long.
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What
Pantopsalis phocatorObserver
camkayDescription
NZ, SL, Catlins Forest
Opilione
Specimen captured by E. Powell of UoA.
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What
Genus MacrolepiotaObserver
camkayDescription
LOCATION:
NZ, AK, Meadowbank, Tahapa reserve east
HABITAT:
Growing from grass in middle of meadow.
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What
Bonnets (Genus Mycena)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION:
NZ, AK, Meadowbank, Tahapa reserve east
HABITAT:
Fruiting underneath conifer trees.
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What
Earthballs (Genus Scleroderma)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION:
NZ, AK, Meadowbank, Tahapa reserve east
HABITAT:
In leaf litter below trees on fringe of meadow.
Photos / Sounds
What
Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION:
NZ, AK, Meadowbank, Tahapa Reserve East
HABITAT:
Growing in large patch, ~10m2, in a meadow.
TASTE:
Delicious.
Photos / Sounds
What
Yellow-shouldered Stout Hover Fly (Simosyrphus grandicornis)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Stonefields
HABITAT: Hovering near flower above rocks leading to pond.
IDENTIFICATION: Simosyrphus grandicornis
-Head posteriorly concave
-Male and tergum 5 visible dorsally
-Face yellow
-Metasternum bare?
-Abdomen oval
-Scutum with yellow, lateral vitta
REFERENCE:
Thompson, F. C. (2008). A conspectus of New Zealand flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) with the description of a new genus and species. Zootaxa, 1716: 1-20
Photos / Sounds
What
Toheroa (Paphies ventricosa)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Waiheke, Onetangi beach
Length: 112 mm
Width: 72 mm
Seems too large to be a Tuatua. (Paphies subtriangulata)
I didn't think Toheroa (Paphies ventricosa) would be found here. To my untrained eye, the posteroventral margin doesn't seem rounded enough and the umbo angle also does not seem obtuse enough.
Could it be a deep-water/ Southern Tuatua? (Paphies donacina)
Photos / Sounds
What
Kiwiplatynus bidensObserver
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, Waiheke, Onetangi, Waiheke Forest
HABITAT: Under rotting nikau trunk.
Cluster of mites(?) under pronotum.
I've been trying to ID this one myself. I've pointed at the anatomy I think is diagnostic, and would appreciate any input:
HEAD:
Eyes: Do NOT touch buccal fissure
Mentum: Circular fovea present
BODY: 18mm
Elytra: Scutellar setiferous pore present, scutellar striole long, fused along suture
LEGS:
Tarsus: Setose ventrally, claws entire ventrally (not serrate).
Metatarsomere 1 grooved dorsally.
GENERAL:
Colour: Lacks metallic lustre, is less glossy than a Ctenognathus bidens specimen on hand.
IDENTIFICATION:
Ctenognathus spp. based on fused elytra and body length (18mm).
REFERENCE:
Larochelle, A., & Lariviere, M-C. (2007) Carabidae: synopsis of supraspecific taxa. (pp 79-82)
Fauna of New Zealand (#60), Canterbury, New Zealand: Manaaki Whenua Press
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What
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, Waiheke, Oneroa, Solar eating café.
HABITAT: On Swan plant.
I didn't expect to see these this late in the year. Will they make it to adults?
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What
Large Garden Bumble Bee (Bombus ruderatus)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, Waharau Regional Park
HABITAT: On thistle flower
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What
Asian Paper Wasp (Polistes chinensis)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, Waiheke, Onetangi
HABITAT: On flowers by beach.
Photos / Sounds
What
Smooth Stick Insect (Clitarchus hookeri)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, Waharau Regional Park
HABITAT: On Manuka tree at night
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What
Plague Skink (Lampropholis delicata)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Matuku Reserve
HABITAT: On wooden picnic table in sunny patch.
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What
Giant Willow Aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Matuku Reserve.
HABITAT: On Willow tree in wetland.
Photos / Sounds
What
Yuccas (Genus Yucca)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Waiheke, Onetangi beach.
HABITAT: Bottom of sand bank right on beach.
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Waiheke, Onetangi beach
HABITAT: On flowers growing from sand bank above beach.
Photos / Sounds
What
Asian Paper Wasp (Polistes chinensis)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Waiheke, Onetangi
HABITAT: On flowers growing from sand bank next to beach.
Photos / Sounds
What
North Island Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa ssp. placabilis)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Waiheke, Onetangi, Jacob's ladder walk.
HABITAT: In small patch of native bush.
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What
Common Gilled Mushrooms and Allies (Order Agaricales)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Waiheke, Onetangi, Jacob's Ladder walk.
HABITAT: On ground in small patch of native bush.
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What
Dotted-stalked Suillus (Suillus granulatus)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Onetangi
HABITAT: On ground under pine trees.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Matuku Reserve
HABITAT: Growing from hummus rich soil.
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What
Coral Fungi (Genus Ramaria)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Matuku Reserve
HABITAT: On ground in middle of path down to Kauri trees.
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What
Kikihi Cicadas (Genus Kikihia)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, St. Johns
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What
Common Tiger Beetle (Neocicindela tuberculata)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, Whakatiwai, Waharau Regional Park
HABITAT: On ground in barked area under native bush
METHOD: By hand
LENS: 50mm+20mm extension tube=1.4:1 magnification, focus stacking on selected shots.
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What
Blow Flies (Family Calliphoridae)Observer
camkayDescription
LOCATION: NZ, AK, Stonefields
HABITAT: On greenery surrounding pond/lake
