INTERESTING INSECTS

Non-indigenous species that are living in New Zealand. They may also be called exotic, introduced, alien, or naturalised​​​​​​​ species. They may have arrived accidentally or been deliberately introduced to the country. If they have been deliberately introduced (e.g. for example for biological control of a weed) they may be termed established.

Non-indigenous species that are living in New Zealand. They may also be called exotic, introduced, adventive, or naturalised​​​​​​​ species. They may have arrived accidentally or have been deliberately introduced to the country. If they have been deliberately introduced, for example for biological control of a weed, they may be termed established.

Information about each species indicating its origins and occurrence in New Zealand. Various terms are used for both origins and occurrence, but they have been standardised in the factsheets. The terms used differ slightly for plants and invertebrates.

Non-indigenous invertebrate species that are or have been held in captivity in New Zealand and do not exist in the wild. The term may include species that have been released into New Zealand but have not established​​​​​​​.

A non-scientific name of an organism. They include Māori names and may also be called vernacular names.​ Sometimes an existing common name can refer to more than one species of organism. Additional common names may be listed as synonyms​​​​​​​.

Plants that exist only in cultivation in New Zealand. Some plants that are mainly present in cultivation also have wild populations and are therefore classed as naturalised, exotic​​​​​​​, or exotic (casual).

Places where a species lives, including its native​​​​​​​ ecosystems and places where it has spread in historical times.

Species that occur naturally only in New Zealand. They are indigenous​​​​​​​ to this region.

Non-indigenous species that have accidentally arrived or have been deliberately introduced (e.g., for biological control of a weed). They may also be called adventive, alien, exotic​​​​​​​, or naturalised species.

Non-indigenous species that are living in New Zealand. They may also be called adventive or naturalised species. They may have arrived accidentally or been deliberately introduced to the country. If they have been deliberately introduced (e.g., for biological control of a weed), they may be termed established.​​​​​​​

An animal that feeds on fungi.

An animal that feeds on plants.

A plant species on which at least one life stage of a herbivore​​​​​​​ feeds without being harmed and can pass on to the next life stage or lay fertile eggs.

Species that occur naturally in New Zealand. They may occur only in New Zealand (endemic) or naturally in other regions of the world as well (non-endemic).

An invertebrate​​​​​​​ with an exoskeleton, with the body divided into segments, and typically in three groups: a head, a thorax and an abdomen. The thorax usually has three pairs of legs, and adults may have two pairs of wings.

An animal that does not have a backbone (e.g., worms, molluscs (snails, slugs), crustacea (slaters, crabs), spiders, mites​​​​​​​, and insects​​​​​​​).

A non-scientific name in teo reo by Māori used for an organisms. Sometimes a Māori name can refer to more than one species. Sometimes a species can have more than one Māori name, in which case they can be listed as synonyms​​​​​​​.

A small invertebrate​​​​​​​ with an exoskeleton, and with a head and combined thorax and abdomen. Typically they have four pairs of legs just behind the head. Most mites are terrestrial.

Feeds on only one species (of plant); a type of host plant​​​​​​​ range.

Species that occur naturally in New Zealand as well as other regions of the world. This is the preferred term for insects and other invertebrates. The term 'non-endemic' is also used for these species.

Non-indigenous species of plants that grow wild in New Zealand. They may also be called exotic, introduced, alien, or adventive​​​​​​​ species. They may have arrived accidentally or have been deliberately introduced to the country. This group includes plants that have 'escaped' from cultivation and have established breeding populations in the wild.

Species that occur naturally in New Zealand and other regions of the world. This is the preferred term for plants. The term native is also used for these species.

Species from other geographic regions that have arrived in New Zealand relatively recently. They may also be called adventive, exotic or naturalised species. They may have arrived accidentally or have been deliberately introduced to the country. If they have been deliberately introduced (e.g., for biological control of a weed, they may be termed established).

Feeds on several species of organism (plant, fungus, insect etc.); a type of host plant​​​​​​​ range.

Oligophagous herbivores​​​​​​​ may be divided into two groups: those that feed on species in one genus; and that feed on species in several genera, potentially even belonging to different families. The first group being indicated as 'Oligophagous (genus)'.

Plants and invertebrates​​​​​​​ that do not live in New Zealand, but for which there is information relevant to New Zealand organisms.

An organism that lives on other organisms, but does not do not kill its host.

An insect​​​​​​​ that has the characteristics of parasites and predators​​​​​​​. Usually a single larva feeds on and kills its host. It usually lives on or inside the host. Sometimes several parasitoid larvae will live on or inside one host insect.

A micro-organism that lives on/in other living organisms. They include fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Sometimes the fungal pathogens are more visible than the insect​​​​​​​ host and can be used to identify the presence of the insect, especially scale insects.

An organism that assists the transfer of pollen between flowers. Many insect pollinators also feed on the pollen and nectar produced by the plant and are technically herbivores​​​​​​​.

Feeds on many species (of plant); a type of host plant range.

A herbivore​​​​​​​ is sometimes defined as polyphagous if it feeds on species from three or more families of plants.

An animal that catches, kills and consumes other organisms. One predator usually catches and consumes several or many prey. The definition is usually restricted to animals that catch other animals. However, the term is sometimes used for herbivores that feed on plants. For example seed-eating insect​​​​​​​ may be called seed predators. Leaf-feeding insects may also be called predators.

An organism that feeds on dead and decomposing organisms. Saprovores may be primarily feeding on the micro-organisms in the dead organism. Those that feed on dead plant tissue itself are important in the process of recycling and making the nutrients in dead plants and animals available to living plants for their growth.

A name given to organisms when they have been formally described in the scientific literature.

Sometimes the scientific name of a species changes as a result of new information. The old scientific name is called a synonym.

​​​​​​​In Interesting insects, when there is more than one common name (including Māori names​​​​​​​) these may be listed as synonyms.

A name given to species of invertebrates​​​​​​​ and plants that have not been formally described.

Species whose biostatus is unknown. This mainly refers to invertebrates where the genus is known but the species name is not known.

A non-scientific name for an organisms, including Māori names. Also called 'common names'. 

Sometimes a vernacular name can refer to more than one species. And conversely a species can have more than one common name.