Aotearoa is home to thousands of fascinating insects, spiders, slugs, snails, centipedes, springtails and other “bugs”. These bugs make up more than half of our animal diversity and many of them are found nowhere else on the planet! Bugs are vital for the health of our ecosystems: they are food for our birds and fish, they pollinate our crops and flowers, and they keep our soils aerated, our waste decomposed and our backyard buzzing.
This year’s 21 nominees represent 4 Phyla (Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Playhelminthes), 8 Classes, 19 Orders, and each nominee is the sole representative of its taxonomic Family. We’re excited to have the opportunity to share their stories. You can learn more about each of the nominees by clicking the link to the 2026 nominees above or clicking the image below!
Don’t see your favourite bug on the nominee list this year? You can recommend bugs anytime and we will consider those recommendations for future years.
did you find a new bug? inaturalist.nz can help you identify it!
Questions? Email us at bugoftheyear@ento.org.nz.