Protected New Zealand Insects

[putangitangi]

There have been a number of protected New Zealand insects advertised on the internet recently. These are not listed on Cites but are covered by the NZ Wildlife Act 1953. The insects covered by the act and which are the most sought after by collecters are as follows:
Orthoptera:
Acrididae (Grasshoppers) -
Brachaspis robustus (Robust Grasshopper)
Sigaus childi(Child's Grasshopper)
Anostostomatidae (Giant, ground, tree and tusked weta)
Deinacrida(Giant Weta) - all species.
Hemideina ricta(Banks Peninsula Tree Weta)
Motuweta isolata(Mercury Island Tusked Weta)
Coleoptera:
Carabidae (Ground or Carab Beetles) -
Mecodema laeviceps(Ida Valley Carabid Beetle)
Megadromis speciosis(Eastern Sounds Ground Beetle)
Cerambycidae (Longhorn Beetles)-
Xylotoles costatus(Pitt Island Beetle)
Curculionidae (Weevils) -
Anagotus fairburni(Flax Weevil)
A. stephens Island Weevil)
A. turbotti(Turbott's Weevil)
Hadramphus spinipennis(Coxella Weevil)
H. stlbocarpae(Knobbled Weevil)
H. tuberculatus(Canterbury knobbled Weevil)
Heterexis seticostatusCampbell Island Ribbed Weevil)
Lyperobius huttoni(Speargrass Weevil)
L. nesidiotes(Broughton Island Weevil)
Megacolabus sculpturatus(Akaroa Weevil)
Nothaldonis peacei(Peace's Weevil)
Oclandius laeviusculus (NCN)
Elateridae (Click Beetles) -
Amychus candezei(Chatham Islands Click Beetle)
A. granulatusCook Strait Click Beetle)
Lucanidae (Stag Beetles)
Geodorcus - all species
Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)
Prodontria bicolorata(Alexandra Chafer Beetle)
P. lewisiiCromwell Chafer Beetle)

Hope that this helps. Several people have been jailed this year for offences under this act.

Putangitangi

[buggin]

so what can you take? it's only illegal when you get caught

[putangitangi]

You may feel that way but I could not possibly comment. For the record the protected insects(with a couple of exceptions) are all found on isolated mountains, or on off-shore islands which are closed to public access. Also, apart from the giant weta most are LBJs and woud not be of any interest to the general collector.

Anyway, if you still want to find them, you should ask for directions at the local Deparment of Conservation office. They are very helpful.

Putangitangi

[wollastoni]

Can we see pictures of them somewhere on the web ?