11005-14007 Giant centipede, or hara (Cormocephalus rubriceps). We share this large native centipede (capable of growing to 15cm), with Australia. These animals normally feed on soft-bodied invertebrates, but are capable of killing and eating reptiles, such as this gecko, or even baby birds *
11005-13001 Millipede ( Eumastigonus sp.) common in forests and gardens under bark and in decaying leaves throughout New Zealand. Movement is sluggish, and at rest they usually coil themselves into a flat spiral *
DSC_6490 Forest gecko (Mokopirirakau granulatus) detail of head of male gecko, showing larval mites or 'chiggers' (Neotrombicula naultini) around the geckos eye. During their larval stage of development 'chiggers' attach to their host and feed on the skin. Later, they drop off the host and develop into nymphs, and then into fully grown adult mites. Nymphs and adult mites are no longer parasitic and feed on plant material instead. Ruapehu *
