DSC_8709 Huhu beetle, or tunga rere (Prionoplus reticularis) adult female. An endemic member of the longhorn family, and our largest and heaviest beetle. Often attracted to lights, crashing against windows at night in spring and summer. These beetles have powerful mandibles, which can produce a painful bite, however as adults they eat no food and only survive long enough to find a mate and reproduce, then after about a fortnight they die. Dunedin *
DSC_4202 Huhu beetle (Prionoplus reticularis) larva or 'huhu grub'. These hatch from eggs deposited under bark or in crevices in rotten wood. For two to three years the grubs live in cavities they have eaten into the wood, then they begin a pupal stage that lasts 25 days before hatching into our largest native beetle. Huhu grubs are edible and are considered a delicacy by many - when pan-fried, they taste like buttery chicken and their consistency resembles peanut butter. Adult beetles are often attracted to lights, crashing against windows at night in spring and summer. Mahinerangi Forest *
DSC_4206 Huhu beetle, or tunga rere (Prionoplus reticularis) a recently emerged adult beetle still in pupal chamber, surrounded by wood frass. This endemic longhorn is our largest and heaviest beetle. Often attracted to lights, crashing against windows at night in spring and summer. The beetle has powerful mandibles, which can produce a painful bite, however as adults they eat no food and only survive long enough to find a mate and reproduce, then after about a fortnight they die. Waipori Forest *
