Lots of bugs from moths to spiders, stick insects to beetles
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The genius of bugs Tūhura te pūmanawa ā ngā pepeke

You name it, bugs can do it. Over millions of years, they’ve adapted to make the most of every habitat on Earth. We’re only just beginning to discover their secrets.

Some strike with venom, some dazzle with display. Some are masters of flight. Some come together in complex swarms, and some produce super-strong silk. All have exoskeletons, and all are incredible, beautiful bugs! 

  • Jewel beetles
    The secrets of an exoskeleton

    The secrets of an exoskeleton

    Scuba tanks and ejector seats were invented by bugs long before humans thought of them. Excellent exoskeletons come in every shape, size, and colour imaginable.

  • Priam's blue birdwing butterfly
    The secrets of display

    The secrets of display

    Beautiful displays help bugs attract mates, while crafty camouflage helps them avoid predators – and then there’s some downright devious deception!

  • Dragonfly
    The secrets of flight

    The secrets of flight

    Delicate but powerful wings give bugs impressive manoeuvrability, long-distance flight, and speedy escapes. There’s more than one way to fly with Bug Airlines.

  • Golden orb-weaver’s egg sac
    The secrets of silk

    The secrets of silk

    Silk forms protective cocoons, super-strong webs, and of course beautiful cloth in the hands of humans. But what other secrets does it hold?

  • King baboon spider
    The secrets of venom

    The secrets of venom

    Venomous bugs use stings, bites, and injections in attack and defence. They hurt, paralyse, and kill. But how might we use them in medicine?

  • Honeybee drone.
    The secrets of swarms

    The secrets of swarms

    Bugs that work together really make an impact. Complex societies form efficient colonies, and migrating bugs gather in clouds that darken the skies.