Creepy Crawlies

New Zealand has only one type of land mammal (our native bats), so our insects took the place of small mammals like rats. They grew super-sized. We have the largest weta, the largest carnivorous snail and a giant earthworm that is over a metre long! Meet the giants of the insect world.

There are five different types of weta – tree weta, cave weta, giant weta, tusked weta and ground weta. All together there are over 100 different species of weta.

CAVE WETA

There are 60 species of Cave Weta

1. They are mostly found in caves, which is a good place to hide from predators like rats, but they can also be found in other dark places such as under houses and logs.
2. Cave weta have big back legs and can jump up to two metres!
3. The cave weta has very long antennae and legs. It uses it’s antennae to feel around in the dark.
4. The cave weta can live up to seven years.

GROUND WETA

There are 36 species of Ground Weta

1. The Ground weta cannot hear you coming because it does not have ears on its front legs, like other weta.
2. It is the smallest weta and lives in tunnels in the ground.
3. Like the Tusked weta, the Ground weta is mainly carnivorous.
4. The Ground weta looks a lot like the Tree weta but is smaller.
5. It does not have spiky back legs like the Tree weta.

GIANT WETA

There are 11 species of Giant Weta

1. 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.
2. The gentle giant of the insect world, the Giant weta prefers a vegetarian diet.
3. The Giant weta often lives under rocks and bush floor debris.
4. The giant weta is soooo heavy that it cannot jump.
5. Giant weta are endangered and are protected by the Department of Conservation.

TREE WETA

There are 6 species of Tree Weta

1. The tree weta is sometimes known as the bush weta.
2. The tree weta is the most common type of weta and usually makes its home in the holes of trees.
3. The male tree weta is quite aggressive and it will fight another male weta.
4. It hisses and bites when threatened.
5. The tree weta has a varied diet and will eat both plants and other insects (this means that it is omnivorous).
6. The male weta tends to be quite a hit with the ladies. One male often lives with up to ten females.