Little Barrier Island giant weta
| Deinacrida heteracantha | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Clade: | Euarthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Orthoptera |
| Suborder: | Ensifera |
| Family: | Anostostomatidae |
| Genus: | Deinacrida |
| Species: | D. heteracantha |
| Binomial name | |
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Deinacrida heteracantha White, 1842 | |
Deinacrida heteracantha, also known as wētāpunga, is a wētā in the order Orthoptera and family Anostostomatidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and currently only found on Little Barrier Island and several smaller predator-free island conservation areas. This very large cricket mainly feeds at night, but is also active during the day, when it can be found above ground in vegetation. It has been classified as vulnerable by the IUCN due to ongoing population declines and restricted distribution.
D. heteracantha is part of the Northern Arboreal Giant Wētā lineage, which is regarded as a monophyletic group within the wētās on both morphological and genetic evidence.
D. heteracantha can weigh up to 70 g, but on average weighs between 9-35 g. Average body length is around 75 mm. It is a sexually dimorphic species, with the females being much larger than the males. These large wētā have a broad body and a round head, along with short mandibles. Compared to other cricket species the wētās have relatively short antennae, but can deliver a strong kick with their hind legs. They are generally wingless. The species is mainly herbivorous and feeds on forest foliage.
D. heteracantha are arboreal forest insect dwellers found on Little Barrier Island which lies off the coast of New Zealand. This island is only 3,083 hectares (7,620 acres) in size. They once occupied forests in northern New Zealand including Northland and Auckland. Their habitat range on Little Barrier Island is from second-growth forests located on the lower slopes of the island to the mid-level tall kauri forest. The second-growth forest is dominated by silverfern, nikau palm, mahoe, and kohekohe.
As adults these giant wētā live a nomadic lifestyle This type of lifestyle means that these wētā do not live in the same place, but move to a new location periodically. They live a solitary lifestyle and most of their activity is done at night (i.e. feeding and moving). They can be found above ground level under loose bark or in the cavities of mahoe and pōhutukawa trees. During the day and night males tend to move farther than the females. The male would follow the female by staying back about 25 cm from her; this is observed during the night time.
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Wikipedia