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Invertebrate illustrations by Des Helmore

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Des Helmore began working for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), the forerunner of Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, in 1975. His scientific drawings met the need at the time for highly detailed pictures of entire insects. He was praised for his close observation skills and patient descriptions of New Zealand’s invertebrates.

These 12 prints show some of New Zealand’s most interesting insects. Several are endemic to New Zealand, which means they aren’t found anywhere else in the world.

  • Lemon tree borer Oemona hirta
  • Canterbury tree wētā Hemideina femorata
  • New Zealand giraffe weevil Lasiorhynchus barbicornis
  • Alpine brown soldier bug Cermatulus nasalis turbotti
  • Common tiger beetle Neocicindela tuberculata
  • Hutton’s speargrass weevil Lyperobius hudsoni
  • New Zealand pinhole borer Platypus apicalis
  • Antlered beetle Rhipistena lugubris
  • Parry’s stag beetle Mitophyllus parrianus
  • Pitt Island longhorn beetle Xylotoles costatus
  • Hoplorhaphus spinifer, a species of fungus weevil
  • Andracalles spurcus, a species of ‘true’ weevil
1. Lemon tree borer [Oemona hirta] Image
1. Lemon tree borer Oemona hirta
2. Canterbury tree wētā [Hemideina femorata] Image
2. Canterbury tree wētā Hemideina femorata
3 Coleoptera Brentidae Lasiorhynchus barbicornis NZ giraffe weevil male Image
3 Coleoptera Brentidae Lasiorhynchus barbicornis NZ giraffe weevil male
4. Alpine brown soldier bug [Cermatulus nasalis turbotti] Image
4. Alpine brown soldier bug Cermatulus nasalis turbotti
5. Common tiger beetle [Neocicindela tuberculata] Image
5. Common tiger beetle Neocicindela tuberculata
6. Hutton’s speargrass weevil [Lyperobius hudsoni] Image
6. Hutton’s speargrass weevil Lyperobius hudsoni
7. New Zealand pinhole borer [Platypus apicalis] Image
7. New Zealand pinhole borer Platypus apicalis
8. Antlered beetle [Rhipistena lugubris] Image
8. Antlered beetle Rhipistena lugubris
9. Parry’s stag beetle [Mitophyllus parrianus] Image
9. Parry’s stag beetle Mitophyllus parrianus
10. Pitt Island longhorn beetle [Xylotoles costatus] Image
10. Pitt Island longhorn beetle Xylotoles costatus
11. [Hoplorhaphus spinifer], a species of fungus weevil Image
11. Hoplorhaphus spinifer, a species of fungus weevil
12. [Andracalles spurcus], a species of ‘true’ weevil Image
12. Andracalles spurcus, a species of ‘true’ weevil