Velvet Worm Crowned New Zealand's Bug of the Year

The ancient 'living fossil' known for its unique hunting method won the public vote in the Entomological Society's annual competition.

The New Zealand velvet worm (Peripatoides novaezealandiae) was named Bug of the Year in a public vote organized by the Entomological Society of New Zealand.
Known as a 'living fossil,' this species has remained largely unchanged for 500 million years and is considered a link between worms and arthropods.
Velvet worms are nocturnal predators that use jets of sticky slime to trap prey before dissolving their insides into a liquid for consumption.
The competition aims to raise awareness about underappreciated invertebrates and their ecological importance, attracting nearly 10,000 voters this year.
Habitat loss, introduced predators, and human activity threaten velvet worms, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.