Grab your magnifying glass and take a closer look at the insects of Aotearoa. 

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The Amp: Episode 4, Hidden Kingdom
EPISODE 4

Hidden Kingdom

This episode of The Amp holds a magnifying glass to the Museum’s entomology collections and explores the histories of some of the thousands and thousands of insects behind the Museum’s walls. We also look at how collecting practices have changed, what it’s like to discover a new species, and the entomological research we do a little closer to home.

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  • Click here to read an article by John Early about the oldest insect in New Zealand and learn more about the Colenso specimen of Giant Wētā that we talk about in the episode.
  • Read more stories from our Natural Science team about all sorts of creatures.
  • Visit our Weird and Wonderful gallery on your next trip to the Museum.
  • Find out more about the various school programmes we offer at Tamaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum.



NOTE

During the episode we state that the largest insect is the wētā - this is by biomass. It has been argued that potentially other insects might beat this but it's yet to be officially measured. 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This podcast was brought to you by Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum. It was written and produced by Steph Strock and Laura Skerritt. Sound design by Sara O’Brien. The executive producer was Teresa Cowie from Connect Content. Thanks to our host, Nick Yeats, our guests, John Early and Melissa Kirk and to Adam Burrell for voice acting.

 

MUSIC REPRODUCTION

Freesound.org

  • Criquet 2.mp3 by Pierre Grandjean -- https://freesound.org/s/328966/ -- License: Creative Commons 0;
  • Light Wing Flap by TurboFool -- https://freesound.org/s/561009/ -- License: Creative Commons 0;
  • Vintage camera flash bulb pops sound design.wav by adilbek_sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/595044/ -- License: Creative Commons 0;
  • Elevator Bells.wav by Corruptinator -- https://freesound.org/s/456890/ -- License: Attribution 4.0;
  • Butterfly wings.wav by Yuval -- https://freesound.org/s/198818/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

 

Other SFX/Music used with appropriate permissions/licence from Epidemic, BBC library and the AWMM SFX Library.

 

IMAGE REPRODUCTIONS


Click any of the links below to view the items on Collections Online and find out more about them.

Deinacrida heteracantha. Collection of Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum. AMNZ21862.