Awesome, I hoped to see the large stag beetle on the mountain, Geodorcus auriculatus (certainly Geodorcus) but alas none to be seen. They are now a protected species. I saw a nice smooth green phasmid on Mt Te Aroha but i inadvertently let it go and an even nicer one on the Okura Walkway trip. I have photos of the latter whilst the specimen is in the Landcare Collection by now (formerly DSIR Entomology Division). One day I will see a winged phasmid, ours as I am sure you know are wingless. For the non entomologists Phasmids are "stick insects" or "walking sticks" (American). Sounds like you collect as well as photograph?
My first entomological memory was in 1966 as a 6 year old, I had pet smooth green stick insects from our Macrocarpa hedge. The memory was of breaking the jar that housed them on the way home from school, the stick insects survived ok though. My mother remembers me as a toddler chasing butterflies but alas I do not.
I am starting to get into photography, but I still feel the urge to collect. I am very much a systematist so unfortunately need the real thing to identify, classify, compare and file. I am utterly fascinated by the diversity of invertebrates (both insects and molluscs) My vast insect collection is in plastic or wooden storeboxes and the room has a lingering camphor odour. Just ask cpratt & danlmarmot. My partner Tim just rolls his eyes or takes the piss. Carbon tetrachloride has very much gone the way of so many other organic nasties, I used to use Ethyl Acetate but cannot buy that anymore because of the drug cooks.
As for the stick insects, it was a Lawsoniana hedge not Macrocarpa. I guess there is a difference, certainly one the stick insects know about.
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My first entomological memory was in 1966 as a 6 year old, I had pet smooth green stick insects from our Macrocarpa hedge. The memory was of breaking the jar that housed them on the way home from school, the stick insects survived ok though. My mother remembers me as a toddler chasing butterflies but alas I do not.
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As for the stick insects, it was a Lawsoniana hedge not Macrocarpa. I guess there is a difference, certainly one the stick insects know about.
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