Phil Sirvid
When it comes to bugs and humans, it’s not just a case of eat or be eaten, says the Te Papa entomologist. The national museum’s Bug Lab exhibition shows how people are being inspired by the critters, from copying their flying skills for drones, to 3D printing of surgical implants out of spider silk. And for the adventurous, Phil Sirvid says, bugs are on the menu at Te Papa’s cafe.
What does a giant weta eat for breakfast? There are several species of giant weta, and generally they’re quite happy with a vegetarian diet. However, if they came across a dead insect while out foraging, they’d make a meal of that, too. But as they’re nocturnal, I’m not sure the concept of breakfast applies.
What is the giant weta’s favourite food? In captivity, they eat fresh leafy vegetation, but they’re also partial to fruit and pieces of carrot, and a dead bug or two for variety.
Do mosquitoes drink only blood? Female mosquitoes are blood feeders, which enables them to produce more eggs. Otherwise, they get their nutrients from flowers.
What about the males? They get their energy from flowers only.
How do spiders usually eat their prey? Typically by turning it into soup by smothering it in digestive enzymes to dissolve the muscle and organ tissue. They then suck up the resulting liquid. Redback spiders have the ultimate dinner date. As part of the mating process, the male will flip over while he’s inseminating the female, positioning his body under her fangs so she can feed on him.
That’s commitment! I guess not everyone is socompliant. Bug Lab features the jewel wasp, which feeds on nectar, but its young grubs feed on paralysed cockroaches, literally eating them alive – quite a change between the infant and adult diets. The mason wasp uses orbweb spiders in a similar way. The museum cafe is serving creepy crawlies. Its bug slider, which has proven popular with punters, includes a patty made of shallow-fried locusts mixed with minced chicken, and is served with a lime ant aioli. The edible locusts and ants were provided by New Zealand company Anteater.
Te Papa’s Bug Lab exhibition is open daily until April 17.