Skip to main content

Story: Beetles

Huhu beetle

Image
Huhu beetle

The huhu beetle (Prionoplus reticularis) is one of New Zealand’s largest and heaviest beetles, reaching 5 centimetres in length. These beetles have a noisy, erratic flight. They do not eat, and live for only a couple of weeks.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10032253

by Rod Morris

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

John Marris, Beetles – What is a beetle?, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14356/huhu-beetle (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by John Marris, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Joanna Saunders
28 December 2021
Does the Huhu beatle bite when it feels threatened?