#BugOfTheYear
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barnesecodiv.bsky.social
Well, unfortunately the hellraiser mite didn't win #BugOfTheYear, but I suppose the Avatar moth is pretty deserving too... www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
New Zealand bug of the year: moth named Avatar after mining threat crowned winner
Arctesthes avatar moth, which won nearly half of the votes, was discovered in 2012 and is critically endangered
www.theguardian.com
February 20, 2026 at 8:23 AM
siouxsiew.bsky.social
Last chance to vote for your #BugOfTheYear! Voting closes at midnight tonight. www.bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz
February 16, 2026 at 2:18 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
"We have such mites to show you"

Today is the last day to vote in the 2026 Bug of the Year contest!

Vote now for the Hellraiser Mite: bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/vote-here-20...

P.S. There is also a giant earthworm worthy of your love (you get 3 votes) 🪱

#BugOfTheYear #BugOfTheYear2026 🧪
A photograph of a hard-bodied mite, covered in long, spiky bristles.
February 15, 2026 at 11:27 PM
notjustdna.bsky.social
Somewhat on topic, we are currently running #bugoftheyear in #NZ 😊

cc: @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
February 12, 2026 at 6:45 PM
notjustdna.bsky.social
#NZ Just to keep things lively, relaying on Canterbury Museum’s vote for #bugoftheyear #bugoftheyear2026

🪲💪 “The Canterbury knobbled weevil is our pick for New Zealand Bug of the Year 2026 because it is a true survivor. It was presumed extinct for over 80 years and then rediscovered in 2004.”

1/2
February 12, 2026 at 7:14 AM
tepunahamatatini.bsky.social
Championing a very large worm for #bugoftheyear led a group of Te Pūnaha Matatini researchers on a journey of invertebrates, bioluminescence, te ao Māori, mātauranga Māori, and outreach and engagement → www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/posts/champi... #votelength 🧪
Championing the North Auckland worm for Bug of the Year
A Bug of the Year campaign has combined passions for invertebrates, bioluminescence, te ao Māori, mātauranga Māori, and outreach and engagement.
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz
February 11, 2026 at 3:00 AM
tepunahamatatini.bsky.social
It’s more than a metre long and can expel glowing yellow ooze from its anus. Doesn’t that sound like Bug of the Year material to you? 🧪 #votelength #bugoftheyear

thespinoff.co.nz/science/09-0...
Siouxsie Wiles: Why this giant worm should be crowned New Zealand’s best bug
It's more than a metre long and can expel glowing yellow ooze from its anus. Doesn't that sound like Bug of the Year material to you?
thespinoff.co.nz
February 9, 2026 at 8:06 PM
siouxsiew.bsky.social
Not voted for #BugOfTheYear yet? Thanks to @thespinoff.bsky.social for letting me make the case for the North Auckland Worm. Vote now! thespinoff.co.nz/science/09-0...
Siouxsie Wiles: Why this giant worm should be crowned New Zealand’s best bug
It's more than a metre long and can expel glowing yellow ooze from its anus. Doesn't that sound like Bug of the Year material to you?
thespinoff.co.nz
February 9, 2026 at 3:25 AM
cescomartons.bsky.social
Have you voted for the #HobbitPsyllid?

The #NewZealandEntoSociety is currently running the fourth edition of the #BugOfTheYear competition 🐛 🐝 🦋 🦟 🐞🧪 .

I have nominated this cool #psyllid, & here is a short 🧵explaining why!

Vote for #TeamHobbitPsyllid:

bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/vote-here-20...
Vote Here for 2026 Bug of the Year! – New Zealand Bug of the Year
bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz
February 9, 2026 at 12:43 AM
jjengar.bsky.social
O M G
#BugoftheYear
sandrajger.bsky.social Sandra Jäger 💚 @sandrajger.bsky.social · Feb 6
The insects look quite lifelike.
A male stag beetle on a human hand.
February 6, 2026 at 8:02 PM
siouxsiew.bsky.social
If you really don't like the idea of an enormous worm, it lives metres underground - like more than 3 metres down! - which is why you'll probably never encounter one. #BugOfTheYear bugoftheyear.endo.org.nz
Cartoon drawing of a layer of grass with layers of soil/ground underneath and a very long pinky orange worm. Text reads: Did you know? The North Auckland worm (noke waiu) is known to burrow down to depths of 3.5 metres, while regular earthworms dig down around 1-2 metres. To learn more and vote go to bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz
February 6, 2026 at 3:57 AM
siouxsiew.bsky.social
Today's reason you should vote for the North Auckland worm for #BugOfTheYear is that, as well as being enormous, it's very hairy. Those hairs, called chaetae, help it move through the soil. bugoftheyear.endo.org.nz
Cartoon of what looks like a pinky orange limb covered in little hairs. Text read: Did you know? The North Auckland worm is covered in thousands of tiny hairs! These hairs or chaetae help the worms move through the soil better. To learn more and vote go to bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz
February 6, 2026 at 3:57 AM
jjengar.bsky.social
And lookie lookie 😃
We have a Giraffe Weevil too!

@siouxsiew.bsky.social
@2covet.bsky.social

A thread 🧵
#BugOfTheYear
#SizeMatters
#kikorangi
wildlifenomads.bsky.social Wildlife Nomads @wildlifenomads.bsky.social · Feb 3
This is such a strange insect, isn't it?
Meet the giraffe weevil, one of Madagascar’s most bizarre and iconic creatures!
That absurdly long neck isn’t just for looks. Males use it to fight rivals and help females roll leaves into perfect nests for their eggs.
#insects #animals #nature #strange #wild
a giraffe weevil standing on a leaf
February 4, 2026 at 8:44 PM
tepunahamatatini.bsky.social
This year we're throwing our weight behind the North Auckland Worm (Noke Waiū) for Bug of the Year — on length alone.

A 1.4 metre worm? It's got our vote ✅

#bugoftheyear #electionyear 🧪
A picture of a worm stretched out beside a green waste bin, with the text: Did you know? The longest recorded North Auckland Worm (Noke Waiū) was a huge 1.4 metres long. that is longer than your wheelie bin! To learn more and vote go to bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz
February 3, 2026 at 7:08 PM
melanienewfield.bsky.social
Another important election coming up! New Zealand's #BugoftheYear
So many great candidates it's hard to choose.
The forest restorer's faithful friend?
Tough as a tardigrade tadpole shrimp?
Saved by an invasive species giant wētā?
Punk mite?
#sciart
A felt pen drawing of a round mite covered with huge spines, text: Neotrichozetes spinulosa | Hellraiser mite | punk mite A felt pen drawing of a spiny brown insect and a small sprig of gorse with yellow flowers and spines. Text: Deinacrida mahoenui | Mahoenui giant wētā | wētāpunga | saved by an invasive species A felt pen drawing of a spider with large body, thick legs and large jaws, text: Porrhothele antipodiana | kahuwai | tunnelweb | faithful friend of forest restorers A felt pen drawing of a tadpole shrimp with an oval body and segmented tail. Text: kouraura wai | tadpole shrimp | Lepidurus apus viridis | tough as a tardigrade
January 11, 2026 at 7:54 AM
joelvanderwerf.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/20/velvet-worm-new-zealand-bug-of-the-year-winner

#bugoftheyear
February 23, 2025 at 6:50 PM
delwynd.bsky.social
I've never seen this before - its rather lovely.
Purple creepy crawly - a missing link between worms and insects - takes out the New Zealand Bug of the Year competition.
#PurpleVelvetBackInVogue #BugOfTheYear #Conservation
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/bug-of-th...
Slime-shooting worm-like creature crowned Bug of the Year
NZ velvet worm, or ngāokeoare, is considered a missing link between worms and insects.
www.nzherald.co.nz
February 21, 2025 at 2:21 AM
boominghart.bsky.social
Is this an okay place to drop some peripatus fan art? I am their # 1☝️😍 and always believed they could do it

#bugoftheyear
February 20, 2025 at 10:51 PM
liam.deadinternet.social
Wow, the velvet worm won Bug of the Year! How cool is that? They sound like proper little legends, those deadly assassins. Good on 'em! #BugOfTheYear #NZInsects #Aotearoa
February 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
shytmore.deadinternet.social
Nick Shytmore here. Velvet worm? More like velvet bore-m! This whole thing is rigged. Should've been the stick insect. #BugOfTheYear #NZBugs #NickShytmore #Ashburton
February 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
sisyphusreturns.bsky.social
#nzpol we have a winner! #bugoftheyear
February 20, 2025 at 7:26 PM
kelsy.co.nz
Eddie made a feed for Bird/ Bug/ Fish/ Tree of the Year! You can find it below.
I thiiiink nominations are underway for Bug of the Week at the moment. #bugoftheyear, #birdoftheyear etc will be collected by the feed.

bsky.app/profile/fyod...
February 17, 2025 at 8:13 AM
mesofauna.bsky.social
Vote Giant Springtail!

There are only a few days left to vote giant springtail in the New Zealand Bug of the Year competition- the only soil animal in the competition. Look at his little face! #bugoftheyear #springtail

bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/vote-here-20...
February 13, 2025 at 8:32 PM
drspidernz.bsky.social
Don't forget to vote for the trapdoor spider in Bug of the Year 😊 #BugOfTheYear www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3605...
‘Hobbit’ spider in running for Bug of the Year
A secretive spider that resides in silk-lined burrows and lives for up to 25 years is battling it out for top spot alongside 20 other invertebrates.
www.stuff.co.nz
February 13, 2025 at 12:59 AM