Ōtari’s Wardian Case is worth a look
Ōtari’s Wardian Case is often worth a closer look, right now is a good time to check it out. Wellington Gardens apprentice, Cloud Jordan, has curated a ‘who knew’ display describing native insects and spiders, the important roles they play in our ecosystems and the relationships they form with specific native plants. There is drama in the telling. Our common stick insects are in fact cryptic ‘masters of disguise herbivorous phasmids’ that mimic the twigs and leaves of their host manuka, making them all but invisible from predators. The karaka tree is a nursery for our giraffe weevil, where ‘females meticulously bore angled holes into the tree’s bark to lay single eggs, a process that attracts males vying for mating opportunities’. The native fishing spider doesn’t just live in ponds, it also hides in the divaricating branches of Muehlenbeckia astonii in order ‘to ambush prey with stealth and precision’. There’s the native praying mantis on its host kanuka, and much more.
What even is a Wardian Case, you may ask? The terrarium-style container was originally designed for transporting plants on long sea voyages (tea plants from China to England, for example). Today, the concept is mainly used for display. Ōtari’s Wardian Case can be found on the deck outside Tāne Whakapiripiri, the visitor centre, near the canopy walkway. It was funded by the Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust, and the displays keep changing. Don’t miss this one, thanks Cloud.
Posted: 2 July 2025