Yuk - what were these bugs I had?

jan2242, Mar 7, 8:45pm
Took down the paddling pool that was on my wooden deck and underneath were heaps of round black beetles. They were round, like ladybird but lots bgger, and super fast. Were they some type of wood eating bug? Never seen them before and not too sure about putting anything on the deck now if it encourages these ugly things. Tried google but nothing there helped.

flier3, Mar 7, 9:17pm
Were they crickets, do you think? They are pretty fast around the place.

jan2242, Mar 7, 9:28pm
No, not crickets, have loads of them, these were fat round black things.

flier3, Mar 7, 9:33pm

flier3, Mar 7, 9:35pm

flier3, Mar 7, 9:36pm
I'm intrigued now.

jan2242, Mar 7, 9:48pm
Looks like this one -https://bugguide.net/node/vie-
w/185192/bgimage

jan2242, Mar 7, 9:51pm
They didn't seem to have a break on their shell, just solid, didn't fly, just scurried away super fast. I hate bugs!

koru67, Mar 7, 10:31pm
this is a great website for any type of creepy crawly in NZ .
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/animals/bug-id/what-is-this-bug

jan2242, Mar 7, 11:12pm
Can't see it on that site. Will keep my eyes open and see if I can catch one. Just worried it's a wood eater.

lythande1, Mar 8, 12:50am
Wood eaters are generally slaters. And why worry? They eat rotten wood. Not your house.

jan2242, Mar 8, 3:25am
I am talking about my wooden deck, and that does matter! It's 3 metres off the ground and I sure don't want to all through that!

venna2, Mar 8, 4:25am
This is what we called them when I was a child:
https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/bug-maori
The black oval ones in flier's picture, message no 4.

venna2, Dec 14, 1:40am