This competition was born out of the popularity of Bird of the Year, and serves to highlight the far less appreciated but no less important species to Aotearoa. For one, invertebrates in New Zealand are equally unique to this landmass, having a high percentage of endemism. So after highlighting some of these species, perhaps we’ll stop calling ourselves kiwi and start calling ourselves reticulated stag beetles.

You get only three votes… and luckily, three out of the twenty-one candidates live in the Sanctuary! So I ought to convince you to vote for them first.

Meet the giant pill millipede, or Procyliosoma

They are massive! – This one (below) is next to my hand, which is probably a normal-sized hand.

These millipedes have the unique ability to roll into a ball.

Though it’s not that unique considering armadillos, pangolins, hedgehogs, pill millipedes, pill bugs, isopods and pauropods can do the same. It is termed volvation, and is not only defensive in pill millipedes, but acts to retain moisture.

These guys come out at night to feed among the forest litter. They help to break down the yummy detritus(bits and stuff). In this way, they serve as forest recyclers, which someone has got to do

After selecting the giant pill millipede, pretty please select:

The two-spined stick insect! Or Micrachus hystriculeus.

Here is a wonderful picture from Invertebratist Saryu Mae! Here you can see the males riding the backs of the much larger females.

There are at least three te reo Māori names: rō, whe, and wairaka. And there are at least 15 species, all found here!

Stick insects are masters of disguise as seen in this GIF. This one is perfectly imitating the swaying of a branch in the breeze.

(another photo by the Invertebratist)

And this species eats leaves from mānuka and kānuka trees, sharing their home among the moko kākāriki, green geckos.

And for your final vote…

The kahuwai, black tunnelweb spider, or Porrhothele antipodiana

Adorable, isn’t she? (once again, a fantastic image from Saryu Mae)

This is among our most fearsome spiders. This is especially true for me as I’ve been bitten square on my finger by one.

She lives in a beautifully crafted lair lined with a sheet of web. She can traverse quickly and easily along her silk, but you, a mere bug, can not. Try as you might, buzz your wings and wriggle your legs. You’re stuck. You’re only sending signals deep into her cavern that you are completely hopeless, and juicy. And this is why you should vote for kahuwai :) 

1: Giant pill millipede – Procyliosoma tuberculatum
2: Two spined stick insect – Rō – Micrachus hystriculeus
3: Black tunnelweb spider – Kahuwai – Porrhothele antipodiana

And check out the other candidates too!