Protobiella zelandica facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Protobiella zelandica
Scientific classification
Genus:	Protobiella
Species:	zelandica

Protobiella zelandica is a special type of lacewing found only in New Zealand. It belongs to a family of insects called Berothidae. This tiny insect was first described by a scientist named Robert John Tillyard in 1923. It's the only species from its family that lives naturally in New Zealand.

Meet the New Zealand Beaded Lacewing

This lacewing is quite small and has a brown body. You can often spot it by looking for a broken stripe of yellow-brown marks on its head and the part of its body just behind the head (called the thorax).

Antennae Differences

One interesting thing about Protobiella zelandica is how its antennae differ between males and females. The antennae are like feelers on their heads.

• Male lacewings usually have fewer than 40 segments on their antennae.
• Female lacewings have more than 40 segments on their antennae. These segments are called flagellomeres.

What Do They Eat?

Protobiella zelandica is a predator, which means it hunts other insects for food. Scientists have seen it eating tiny insects called adelgidae that live on pine trees. This helps to control the population of these small pests.

Where Does It Live?

You can find Protobiella zelandica all over New Zealand. It lives on both the North Island and the South Island.