Wetapunga
Deinacrida heteracantha
The adult giant wētā shelters in forest vegetation, tree hollows, and ground cover on predator-free New Zealand islands. Active mostly at night, it feeds on foliage, fruit, seeds, and occasional small invertebrates. When threatened, it can raise its spiny hind legs and use its strong mandibles defensively. This is among the heaviest insects in the world, with large females sometimes outweighing small birds.
- Type
- Shell
- Conservation status
- VU
Growth chain
- ?
- Wetapunga