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Story: Insects – overview

Fossil beetle wing case

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Fossil beetle wing case

One of the few insect fossils known from New Zealand was discovered by dinosaur hunter Joan Wiffen in a rock in the Mangahouanga Stream, Hawke’s Bay. It is the wing case of a beetle, and is thought to be 65–86 million years old. This fossil is part of the GNS Science National Paleontological Collection.

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GNS Science

Reference: AR 1421

by Alastair McLean

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page

George Gibbs, Insects – overview – Origin of New Zealand’s insects, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10055/fossil-beetle-wing-case (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by George Gibbs, published 1 March 2009.