invertebrates---insects-and-arachnids

Sarah Bonney, a PhD candidate at Charles Darwin University and organiser of the Darwin Insect Festival, said most people gave insects and invertebrates a bad rap.

"Insects actually play a very big role in our world," she said.

"Without them we wouldn't have a lot of food, they keep our soil healthy, and they basically keep the world turning."

But as well as doing their bit for the environment, beetles, bugs and other invertebrates can also work for us.

On show until October 15, Bug Lab: Little Bugs, Super Powers is a co-production between New Zealand museum Te Papa and special effects company Weta Workshop.

Te Papa entomologist Dr Phil Sirvid said the show was "a celebration of the genius of bugs".

Here's four freaky insect facts from the exhibition.

Dragonflies out-hunt lions

Lions may be kings of the jungle, but they are amateur hunters compared to dragonflies, Dr Sirvid said.

"A lion hunting on its own gets its dinner about one time in five; dragonflies, typically, it's 95 out of 100."