The weta is a New Zealand insect – endemic to that country which means “found nowhere else” – it’s as old as… the dinasours!
Wētā have become icons for invertebrate conservation in New Zealand because many species are threatened or endangered. There are more than 100 species of wētā in New Zealand, 16 of which are at risk.
There are five broad groups of wētā:
- Tree wētā
- Ground wētā
- Cave wētā
- Giant wētā
- Tusked wētā
Diet: Wētā are mainly herbivorous in the wild, but are also known to eat insects.
Habitat: They are nocturnal and live in a variety of habitats including grassland, shrub land, forests, and caves. They excavate holes under stones, rotting logs, or in trees, or occupy pre-formed burrows.
Source … department of conservation New Zealand
More information at https://www.nznatureguy.com/2022/03/11/7-weta-facts-endemic-insects/
