Huhu beetle

The huhu beetle (Prionoplus reticularis) is the largest endemic beetle found in New Zealand, a member of the longhorn beetle family (Cerambycidae).

Huhu is now often used as the name for all stages of life of the beetle, but traditionally huhu was the Māori name for the larval stage, which was also known as tunga rakau or tunga haere. The whitish larvae are up to 70 millimetres (2.8 in) long and normally feed on dead wood of gymnosperms (mainly native and introduced conifers). The native host plants are all associated with lowland podocarp forest. They are edible, and are said by some to taste like buttery chicken.