Giant weta
Encyclopedia
Giant wetas are species of weta
in the genus Deinacrida of the family
Anostostomatidae
. Giant wetas are endemic
to New Zealand
, and are examples of island gigantism
.
There are 11 species of giant weta, most of which are larger than other weta, despite the latter already being large by insect standards. Large species can be up to 10 cm (4 in) not inclusive of legs and antennae
with body mass usually no more than 35g. One captive female reached a mass of about 70 g
(2.5 oz
), making it one of the heaviest documented insects in the world and heavier than a sparrow
. This is, however, unnatural as this individual was unmated and retained an abnormal number of eggs. The largest species of giant weta is the Little Barrier Island giant weta, also known as the wetapunga. Giant weta tend to be less social and more passive than other weta. Their genus name, Deinacrida, is Greek for terrible grasshopper. They are found primarily on New Zealand offshore islands, having been almost exterminated on the mainland islands by introduced mammalian pests.
Weta
Weta is the name given to about 70 insect species endemic to New Zealand. There are many similar species around the world, though most are in the southern hemisphere. The name comes from the Māori word 'wētā' and is the same in the plural...
in the genus Deinacrida of the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Anostostomatidae
Anostostomatidae
Anostostomatidae is a family in the order Orthoptera. It is sometimes referred to as Mimnermidae or Henicidae in some taxonomies, and common names include King crickets in South Africa, and wetas in New Zealand. They are believed to be most closely related to the Jerusalem crickets of North America...
. Giant wetas are endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and are examples of island gigantism
Island gigantism
Island gigantism or insular giantism is a biological phenomenon in which the size of animals isolated on an island increases dramatically in comparison to their mainland relatives....
.
There are 11 species of giant weta, most of which are larger than other weta, despite the latter already being large by insect standards. Large species can be up to 10 cm (4 in) not inclusive of legs and antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
with body mass usually no more than 35g. One captive female reached a mass of about 70 g
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
(2.5 oz
Ounce
The ounce is a unit of mass with several definitions, the most commonly used of which are equal to approximately 28 grams. The ounce is used in a number of different systems, including various systems of mass that form part of the imperial and United States customary systems...
), making it one of the heaviest documented insects in the world and heavier than a sparrow
Sparrow
The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer...
. This is, however, unnatural as this individual was unmated and retained an abnormal number of eggs. The largest species of giant weta is the Little Barrier Island giant weta, also known as the wetapunga. Giant weta tend to be less social and more passive than other weta. Their genus name, Deinacrida, is Greek for terrible grasshopper. They are found primarily on New Zealand offshore islands, having been almost exterminated on the mainland islands by introduced mammalian pests.
Species
- Deinacrida carinataDeinacrida carinataDeinacrida carinata is a species of insect in family Anostostomatidae. It is endemic to New Zealand....
Salmon, 1950 Foveaux Strait giant weta - Deinacrida connectensDeinacrida connectensDeinacrida connectens is a species of insect in family Anostostomatidae. It is endemic to New Zealand....
(Ander, 1939) Alpine scree giant weta - Deinacrida elegansDeinacrida elegansDeinacrida elegans is a species of insect in family Anostostomatidae. It is endemic to New Zealand....
Gibbs, 1999 Bluff giant weta - Deinacrida fallaiDeinacrida fallaiDeinacrida fallai or Poor Knights giant weta is a species of insect in family Anostostomatidae. It is endemic to the Poor Knights Islands, off northern New Zealand.-Source:...
Salmon, 1950 Poor Knights giant weta - Deinacrida heteracanthaDeinacrida heteracanthaDeinacrida heteracantha, also known as the Little Barrier Island giant weta, is a species of insect, a type of cricket in family Anostostomatidae that has no wings. It is endemic to New Zealand, naturally surviving now only on Little Barrier Island. It was formerly found on the mainland...
White, 1842 Little Barrier Island giant weta - Deinacrida mahoenuiDeinacrida mahoenuiDeinacrida mahoenui is a species of insect in family Anostostomatidae. It is endemic to New Zealand....
Gibbs, 1999 Mahoenui giant weta - Deinacrida parvaDeinacrida parvaDeinacrida parva or Kaikoura giant weta is a species of insect in family Anostostomatidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1996. . Downloaded on 9 August 2007....
Buller, 1895 Kaikoura giant weta - Deinacrida pluvialisDeinacrida pluvialisDeinacrida pluvialis is a species of insect in family Anostostomatidae. It is endemic to New Zealand....
Gibbs, 1999 Giant weta - Deinacrida rugosaDeinacrida rugosaDeinacrida rugosa, commonly called the Cook Strait giant weta, is a species of insect in the family Anostostomatidae. The scientific name "Deinacrida" means "terrible grasshopper" and "rugosa" means "wrinkled". It is endemic to New Zealand....
Buller, 1871 Cook Strait giant weta - Deinacrida talpaDeinacrida talpaDeinacrida talpa is a species of insect in family Anostostomatidae. It is endemic to New Zealand....
Gibbs, 1999 Giant mole weta - Deinacrida tibiospinaDeinacrida tibiospinaDeinacrida tibiospina is a species of insect in family Anostostomatidae. It is endemic to New Zealand....
Salmon, 1950 Mt Arthur giant weta