Today's invertebrate pic is a photo I took way back in September 2008. This beetle was in the Ark in the Park, an exciting project in the Waitakere Ranges, near Auckland, New Zealand. A joint project between Forest and Bird, a local conservation group, and the Auckland Council, Ark in the Park uses intensive trapping and baiting to control invasive predators for the benefit of native species. 2008 was the last time I visited the park, and the forest was already loud with birdsong at the time. Since then the area of pest control has been increased, and there have been several reintroductions of endangered native birds. I look forward to visiting the Ark on my next visit to New Zealand, and seeing the progress that has been made.
As for the beetle, I'm not sure, but I think it is a member of the genus Stethaspis, in the family Scarabaeidae.
And now here are some gratuitous pictures of the great kauri trees and nikau palms in the Waitakere ranges.
