The critter for this week is rytinotus squamulosus, the debris cloaking bark beetle! These minuscule bark beetles are able to enhance their camouflage and hide from predators by passively accumulating debris from the environment, they secrete a special adhesive which acts as a glue onto which tiny bits of bark and dead leaves get stuck.
What a beetle! Emile chats to Forest and Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki about it.
Photo: iNaturalist/commoncopper
