NK photography

19/09/2026

19/09/2026

This specific beetle is the Sitona weevil (Sitona discoideus).
Also known as the lucerne weevil, it is a broad-nosed species native to Europe and North Africa but has become an introduced pest in New Zealand and Australia.

It is a Specialist ForagerUnlike some garden pests that eat anything in sight, the Sitona weevil is highly specialized. It feeds almost exclusively on medics and clovers, and it is a major agricultural pest for lucerne (alfalfa) crops across New Zealand pastures.

The lifecycle of this weevil brings two entirely different types of damage to crops:
The Adults: They chew the foliage from the outside, creating very distinct, neat U-shaped notches along the edges of the leaves.
The Larvae: After hatching in the soil, the legless white grubs burrow down to tunnel into plant roots. They specifically target and eat the nitrogen-fixing root nodules, starving the plant of its vital nutrients

New Zealand scientists introduced a tiny Moroccan parasitic wasp (Microctonus aethiopoides) as a biological control agent. The wasp lays an egg inside the adult weevil. As the wasp larva grows inside, it completely sterilizes the weevil before eventually tunneling its way out, killing its host.

Distinct AnatomyUnlike the native giraffe weevil with its long, exaggerated snout, the Sitona weevil belongs to the "broad-nosed" weevil group. It features a very short, stubby snout and is recognizable by three distinct pale stripes running vertically down the thorax just behind its eyes

09/09/2026

28/08/2026

Hello, I need your help!I have some huge news: my photo that you are looking at right now, showing ants eating a beetle, became a finalist in New Zealand Geographic.
Public voting opened today. If you feel like checking out some awesome photos and giving me a hand, go to the link and choose your 5 favorites. Remember to select mine, "Nahuel Kondratzky," which is the same one you see right here 😉.

Link here 👉nzgeo.com/photography/photographer-of-the-year-2026-finalists

It would be greatly appreciated if you share the link so your acquaintances can vote for me!

25/06/2026

The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae. Many species superficially resemble mosquitoes, but they lack the wing scales and elongated mouthparts of the Culicidae.

23/04/2026

hound tongue fern facts

A new scientific name for one of Aotearoa's most common ferns ...Hound’s tongue fern (Zealandia pustulata, formerly Microsorum pustulatum) is a common New Zealand and Australian native fern known for its glossy, bright green, leathery fronds and long, creeping, fleshy rhizomes. It is a highly versatile, easy-to-grow plant that thrives as a ground cover or climber on trees and rocks, often called kōwaowao or pāraharaha in Māori.

Key Facts About Hound’s Tongue Fern:
Appearance: Features shiny, lime-green, lobed fronds that are often wavy at the edges. The fronds grow from thick, creeping rhizomes (up to 10 mm in diameter) that have dark, appressed scales.
Habitat: Commonly found in forests and open areas across New Zealand, often acting as a pioneer species on rocks and trees (epiphytic).
Distribution & Status: Native to New Zealand and Australia, and listed as "Not Threatened" as of 2023.
Edibility & Use: The young, fresh shoots are edible, often described as having a nutty, creamy taste similar to macadamia nuts, leading to the name "bush lettuce".
Cultivation: Highly adaptable, it is excellent for gardens, rockeries, or hanging baskets. It thrives in shades of partial to full and is drought-tolerant once established.
Scientific Name Changes: Frequently identified as Microsorum pustulatum, it has recently been reclassified as Lecanopteris pustulata.