Bugs at Te Papa

 The bug exhibition at Te Papa was fantastic.  The orchid praying mantis was scary beautiful.

 There were lots of info stands, and interesting bugs to look at up close and magnified.

 The delicate dragonfly model was my favourite.

 I didn't realise that there were so many different shapes in a dragonfly's wing. Helps with flex and control.

 The dragonfly enclosure was spectacular.

 The silver ball opens up with the stobe light, and the frog jumps into the pond, and the dragonflies, fly around.

 The detail on the giant leaves and reeds was exquisite.

 The next enclosure was the wasp and the zombie.  The colours were amazing but I did feel sorry for the cockroach.

 Lots of informative and hands on things for the urchins to try.  Tighe managed to get his paper bug to soar in the wind tube.

 The bee section was interesting.  The bees use their wings to heat up the air around the hornet, to kill off the hornet.

 The urchins and I had to rub a section of the exhibit, so that our heat could kill off the hornet.

 These exhibits were larger than us, and the detail on the insects was incredible.

We all had a go at making the paint change colour with the heat of rubbing our hands on the paint.

 Once outside the Bug exhibit, we looked at the Giant Squid (again), and Tighe likes to explore the bush section of Te Papa.  The ball came along as well.

 New Zealand dinosaurs.

 There were even flying dinosaurs in New Zealand.