History – Fascinating small residents

An essential part of Kaipara’s story is our natural history, and some of our oldest history begins with bugs and creepy crawlies. Kaipara offers different habitats with rich food sources for Arthropoda, Annelida And Mollusca, so there is a large variety of bug species here – with cicadas singing by day and wētā rasping by night. You will find different bugs on our beach, in our bush, by our streams, in our fields, in the wetlands and in your backyard. While exploring around Mangawhai, one naturalist has found over 750 bug species.

Wētā have been around long enough to see dinosaurs come and go, and to evolve into more than 100 different species – all of them native to Aotearoa. At least nine species are found in Mangawhai across three main groups – ground wētā, tree wētā and cave wētā.

We also have one of New Zealand’s most endangered insects right on our doorstep. The Mokohinau stag beetle is found on one small rocky island in the Mokohinau Islands, east of Bream Head. The last remaining beetles are found on a tower of rock in a patch of coastal vegetation the size of your lounge. This makes them very at risk of extinction – one scrub fire or other incident could remove them all from existence.

We have rarities on land, too. There is a ground beetle called Mecodema xylanthrax that is only found on Pīroa/the Brynderwyns, as identified by Mangawhai Museum’s consulting naturalist Joseph Knight. We now fondly refer to this beetle as Te Pīroa Pango Pāpapa/the Pīroa black beetle, thanks to visitor suggestions inside The Bug Room at the museum.

We also have something a little more dangerous in our area – the katipō can be found on our dunes. Did you know, when you see female katipō throughout most of Aotearoa, they have the well-recognised red band on their back? But, on the dunes in Mangawhai and in northern Aotearoa, the females are completely black.

We love sharing natural history – it’s why we built The Bug Room – and it was so popular, we’ve brought back a Mini Bug Room by popular demand for enjoyment all summer. Come inside and learn our stories – even about the little things.

He iti mokoroa e hinga pūriri | The little grub destroys the pūriri tree – a whakataukī/proverb reminding us that tiny creatures can have a huge impact.

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What’s on at Mangawhai Museum?
Thu 27 Nov: Special exhibition opening – Storm Zone, step inside an experience 4pm
Thu, 4 Dec: Friends preview of handmade in Mangawhai Gifts
Fri, 5 Dec: Late night shopping and museum opening
Sat, 6 Dec: Museum birthday open day – free entry for all
Sun, 7 Dec: Mate’s rates for our rate-mates – free admission for Kaipara ratepayers
Sat, 20 Dec: Late night shopping and museum opening