|
|
There are 11 species
of Giant Weta
- The biggest and
most ferocious weta! No, that’s not true.
The Giant weta is a docile creature and does not
kick or bite. To ward off predators (like you
and me) it raises its spiky back
legs
- The gentle giant
of the insect world, the giant weta prefers a
vegetarian diet
- The Giant Weta
often lives under rocks and bush floor
debris
- The Giant Weta is
soooo heavy that it cannot jump
|
|
Giant Weta species
which are protected:
- Poor Knights Weta
- Deinacrida fallai
- Wetapunga -
Deinacrida heteracantha
- Stephens Island
Weta - Deinacrida rugosa
- Kaikoura Weta -
Deinacrida parva
- Nelson Alpine
Weta - Deinacrida tibiospina
|
|
Wetapunga
is one of the species of Giant Weta....
- The Little
Barrier Island Weta, or 'Wetapunga' as it was
known to the Maori, holds the record for the
heaviest insect in the world
- The largest weta
recorded was a female and it weighed around
THREE TIMES heavier than a mouse! (71
grams)
- The Maori named
the Little Barrier Island Giant Weta,
‘Wetapunga’, which means ‘god of
ugly things’
- Wetapunga used to
be quite common throughout the northern part of
the North Island and Great Barrier Island, but
predators such as the rat have severely reduced
their numbers and they are now only found on
Little Barrier Island
- Wetapunga have
some favourite trees they like to live in; the
kauri, pohutukawa and kanuka. The Giant Weta is
not often found on the ground.
|
|
The
Mahoenui Giant Weta is another species of Giant
Weta....
It has found a good habitat. By living in gorse the
weta is protected from enemies. Gorse is a spiky
weed that farmers usually spray and burn to get rid
of, but one special patch in the King Country is
now protected because that is where the Mahoenui
Giant Weta is hiding.
|
|
|
Not all Giant Weta
are GIANT. They are 'Giant Weta' by species but not
necessarily by size. For example, the Nelson Alpine
Weta weighs around 7 grams on average, and the
Kaikoura Weta can weigh up to 15 grams. The smaller
species of Giant Weta have an advantage over the
bigger Giant Weta because they find it easier to
hide from predators.
|
|