My NZ mini beast report

We have been learning about mini beasts as part of science. We have been creating information reports about mini beast of our choice. The mini beast we chose had to live in Aotearoa/NZ. Here is my writing. I worked with Indi.

                                             Amazing 

Aotearoa/New Zealand

  Mumutawa/ladybirds                                 

 What are Mumutawa/ladybirds?

Mumutawa/ladybirds are little kata/insects. They were brought to New Zealand.
Mumutawa/ladybirds are also
called Farmers’ Friends because they help farmers get rid of pests. The orange spotted
ladybird is also known as Mumutawa and Coccinella leonine. The Harlequin ladybug is
native to NZ. They kaiao/live up to 2-3 years. They’re named Mumutawa/ladybirds after
Lady Mary ( Mother of Jesus ) because off her red cloak that she wore in kōwhaiwhai/
paintings. There are many different types of Mumutawa/ladybirds. The Harlequin
ladybug is A.K.A Harmonia axyridis. The orange spotted ladybird is not threatened. The
Harlequin Mumutawa/ladybirds are 5 to 8 mm. 

                                                Habitat

 Mumutawa/ladybirds live in both North and South Island. Sometimes you can see them
in your mahi mara/garden rerere/flying around and being free. Remember don’t hurt
them because they help you. Some live in warmer places than others. 

Mumutawa/ladybirds live in shrubs, trees, mahi mara/gardens, fields, huahake/crops,
parks. Some even live in wharepuni/houses. They also live in native habitats. 

                  

                           Social Behaviour

Some mumutawa/ladybirds are takitahi/individual. They only pāhikohiko/interact
with others of their kind during breeding. Each kind of mumutawa/ladybirds has its
own odor for attracting  a mate. Some are partly takitahi/individual and gather in large
groups. This is during takurua/winter or while hekenga/migrating. Mumutawa/
ladybirds mate in aroaromahana/spring and early matiti/summer. The male grips the
tuawahine/female from behind and holds on kita/tight.

                                    Feeding time

Mumutawa/ladybirds love to eat just like us. Tuatahi/First of all Mumutawa/
ladybirds are mostly carnivores (Carnivores only eat meat) but some can also be
omnivores ( Omnivores eat both meat and plants ). Carnivores Mumutawa/ladybirds
eat mites, white flies, kuturiki/aphids and scale kata/insects. Mumutawa/ladybirds that
are omnivores eat  mites, white paturongo/flies, kuturiki/aphids and scaled kata/insects
and they eat /pollen and mushrooms. Mumutawa/ladybirds eat their pārurenga/prey
alive. Mumutawa/ladybirds love kuturiki/aphids.

 How do they breed
Mumutawa/ladybirds lay up to 40 eggs at a time. Mumutawa/ladybirds lay once or

more times a year. The eggs of the ladybug is either orange or yellow. These eggs will
hatch within 4-10 days. Ladybirds lay their eggs in clusters or rows on the underside of
a leaf, usually where kuturiki/aphids have gathered. Mumutawa/ladybirds usually 
breed in May but they mate in Koanga/spring and early Raumati/summer. 

                                                   Threats
The kapatau/threats of the Mumutawa/ladybirds are 11 spotted ladybugs,

poraka/frogs,wasps,spiders,dragonflies,birds. Manu/Birds are the main predators.
Mumutawa/ladybirds will hide in shrubs, trees, grass,and more.The bright colours of
the ladybug are telling predators to tua o tāwauwau/back off!! Also Mumutawa/
ladybirds ooze yucky smelly  toxic liquid that will also tell predators to tua o tāwauwau/
back off!!! Other konihi/predators are assassin bugs, parasitic wasps, and ants. 

                              

  How do they breed
Mumutawa/ladybirds lay up to 40 eggs at a time. Mumutawa/ladybirds lay once or

more times a year. The eggs of the ladybug is either orange or yellow. These eggs will
hatch within 4-10 days. Ladybirds lay their eggs in clusters or rows on the underside
of a leaf, usually where kuturiki/aphids have gathered. Mumutawa/ladybirds usually 
breed in May but they mate in Koanga/spring and early Raumati/summer. 

                                                   Threats

The kapatau/threats of the Mumutawa/ladybirds are 11 spotted ladybugs, poraka/frogs,
wasps,spiders,dragonflies,birds. Manu/Birds are the main predators. Mumutawa/l
adybirds will hide in shrubs, trees, grass,and more.The bright colours of the ladybug
are telling predators to tua o tāwauwau/back off!! Also Mumutawa/ladybirds ooze
yucky smelly  toxic liquid that will also tell predators to tua o tāwauwau/back off!!!
Other konihi/predators are assassin bugs, parasitic wasps, and ants. 

Ending

This is some pārongo/information about Mumutawa/ladybirds. Remember they help
your
mahi mara/garden so don’t uruhua/hurt them. We hope you now know more about
Mumutawa/ladybirds and make sure you kaikanohi/look after them!

                              

Weta information report term 3

This is a piece of writing that we did for our minibeast topic when we were learning about weta. We had to write an imformation report on this insect.

Click here to see our success criteria. 
Amazing weta of Aotearoa


What are weta

Weta are native to NewZealand. There are five types of weta Giant weta, Tusked weta, Ground weta, Cave weta and Tree weta. Giant weta is the biggest weta. Some people they think that weta are ugly. There is a maori legend about a weta called punga that means spirit of ugliness. Weta have an exoskeleton. An exoskeleton is an outer shell that protects the body. Weta also have ears on their front legs just below the knee joint.

Where do they live?
Weta live in many different places. 
Weta live in trees and dig holes in the ground and they may live in your firebox! Ground weta and tusked ( tusked weta are rare to find ) weta live in burrows. Giant weta live in trees on the ground under rocks or plants. Tree weta live in holes in trees these are called gallery. Cave weta live in  sea coast caves also live in hollow tree trunks, under houses, tunnels and under stones. 

How do they eat ?
All weta eat something. Giant weta and tree weta are herbivores and eat lichen, seeds, fruit and flowers. Tusked weta and ground weta are carnivores they eat tiny invertebrates, slugs, worms and snails. Some weta are even omnivores. For example cave weta are omnivores they eat fungi, leaves, plants other insects and animal remains. ( Herbivores- just eat plants carnivores-eat only meat omnivores-eat both meat and plants )


How do they reproduceIn
 late koanga spring and raumati summer they mate. In ngahuru autumn the females lay there eggs up to 6 to 10 at a time. In there whole life time females may lay up to 300 eggs. The following spring  the babies hatch and grow.The babies have to shed there skin 9 times until the are adult weta . The male tree weta has to fight of other male weta with his jaws and spiked legs. The females breed in alpine environments, urban gardens, grass lands and shrub lands. 

Social behavior
Weta rub their legs together to make a chirping sound so they can communicate with other weta. Tree weta live in groups they are called galleries. Other weta live by themselves. 

Threats
People from Europe brought cats, rats, hedgehogs, stoats and ferrets. Other threats of the weta are tuataras, birds and even humans. Humans are threats because they destroy their habitats. Poison and spray also kills weta. We need to look after there habitats so they don’t die.    

Powhiri process

We have been learning about being welcomed onto a marae. Here is my writing work about powhiri.

Alaska Wharenui Task

                                               We have been learning about wharenui because we are going to stay at our local Marae. Here is my writing about a wharenui.

 Wharenui

This is a descriptive writing about a wharenui. Here are some facts about a
wharenui.

A Wharenui is a special place were some people have meetings or have
special  occasions. Some of the people that have meetings could be the
Prime Minister the Queen and other special people. Some of the special
occasions could be a birthday party for one of the people who belong to
the wharenui also if one of the people who belong to the wharenui passed
away they could do a funeral/ tangi at the wharenui.  There might be other
special occasions that could be held in a wharenui. A wharenui is special
because it holds Maori legends with the carvings ( carvings tell you a Maori
legend ) , it also is very important for Maori because it is a house of culture.
It represents an ancestor that was very sacred. It is also important for
many other reasons.

A Wharenui is representing a Maōri  ancestor. The head ( the top of the wharenui) is called the koruru. On the sides of the wharenui are the arms in Maori it is called maihi and at the ends  of the maihi are the hands. The hands in Maori is called the raparapa . There is a long panel across the room which is the spine and in Maori it is called the tahuhu and across the tahuhu is the ribs which in Maori it is called heke. In the middle of the wharenui is the heart. In Maori it is called poutokomanawa.

Those are some facts about a wharenui.By Alaska

Ending of hooked on danger

Sleepover

Writing

Crocodile island

Alaska's holidays

Easter holidays