Aotearoa New Zealand excels at many things, holding world records for the fastest female shearer, and the most consecutive backflips on a bike. We also hold some noteworthy records in the creepy-crawly world of entomology. The world's heaviest insect is the giant wētā, and we also have the record for the largest carnivorous snail. But one little giant lives right here in Haakarimata – the giant springtail Holacanthella.
Springtails are 6-legged critters that are closely related to insects, but don't quite fit the bill. They can be found almost everywhere, if you find little white, purple, or pink tiny blobs under a damp planter, there's a good chance they are harmless springtails. These, like most, are small; 2-6mm long, but Holacanthella can get up to 17mm - a true giant in their own tiny way. These are considered very sensitive to forest age, health, and disturbance, so we were thrilled to find them on one of our pest-control grids near Haakarimata earlier this spring.
To see these you'll most likely have to go out at night, but you never know what you might find in Haakarimata!
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