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Mānuka beetle (Pyronota festiva)
Māori name: kēkerewai, repowai
Family: Scarabaeidae
This beetle is an example of the Coleoptera order of insects. In the course of its life, this beetle feeds on a range of plants although it’s frequently found on or near mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium), hence its name. Mānuka beetles spend a year as larvae living in the ground feeding on the roots of plants like ryegrass and clover, which means they are sometimes considered a pest species.
Image sourced from iNaturalistNZ, © Steve Kerr, CC BY 4.0
