u/Shot_Turnover_4518

Endemic to the Canterbury region of Aotearoa is Megadromus antarcticus, a large and mighty carabid with an iridescent green on the edges of its carapace. These beetles rush through the undergrowth and grass and grabs whatever it can with its large jaws.

Like a lot of other carabids, M. antarcticus is a generalist predator that eats a large variety of prey, and are especially excellent hunters of soft-bodied invertebrates like worms and slugs.

I am very fond of these beetles, seeing one is very exciting!

These native sweat bees are a common sight during the warmer months of summer and spring seasons, *Lasioglossum* sp. (Likely *L. sordidum*) is always a delight to spot as they collect pollen from Hebes.

Though normally pollinating Hebes during warmer seasons, it seems that you may be more likely to spot them around daisies and dandelions in lawns if you look well enough during autumn, and during winter the bees nearly completely disappear only to arrive back in the spring.

(The black mass on the bottom left of the Scentless Mayweed are thrips! Possibly undescribed but I need to get a better photo).

*Maratus marinus*, one of the largest members (possibly the largest) of the peacock jumping spider genus.

Honestly quite cool to see, according to Inaturalist they are often sighted around the South Islands' eastern coasts, with some around southern north island too.