Buzz
The giant weta ranks among the largest insects globally, surpassing the size of most bugs and even rivaling certain small mammals. Here are 10 lesser-known facts about this native of New Zealand.
1. It can be heavier than a mouse.
Known as the heaviest insect on record, the giant weta can tip the scales at up to 2.5 ounces, although not all specimens grow to such massive sizes. Watch one confront a cat in the video above.
2. Its name translates to “god of ugly things.”
The term weta originates from the Maori word wetapunga, which translates to “god of ugly things” [PDF]. Its genus name, deinacrida, signifies “terrible grasshopper.”
3. It has a fondness for carrots.
During a 2011 expedition to New Zealand’s Little Barrier Island, Smithsonian researcher Mark Moffett encountered an exceptionally large giant weta. A photo of Moffett feeding the insect a carrot quickly went viral. A local insect expert later informed the New Zealand Herald that offering carrots to these creatures is a common practice.
4. It has numerous weta relatives.
New Zealand is home to more than 70 weta species. The giant weta’s relatives include the predatory tusked weta, the arboreal tree weta, and the subterranean cave weta. Remarkably, the alpine weta can survive being frozen solid in winter, only to thaw and resume activity in spring.
5. It lacks the ability to jump.
Despite resembling a large cricket, giant weta are too hefty to fly. While some of its relatives, such as the tree weta, are more nimble and capable of jumping, giant weta remain firmly grounded.
6. It faces near extinction due to rats.
Centuries ago, humans arriving in New Zealand unintentionally introduced predators like rats and cats, which preyed on the giant weta. First documented in 1842, the species was declared extinct on mainland New Zealand by the 1960s, despite once thriving across the northern island. Today, giant weta are largely confined to Little Barrier Island, located approximately 50 miles northeast of Auckland.
7. It is bred in controlled environments.
Several conservation organizations have initiated captive breeding programs to boost the population of giant weta. In 2013, an overwhelming number of baby wetapunga hatched at the Auckland Zoo, necessitating additional staff to care for them. By May 2014, the zoo had released 150 giant weta onto Tiritiri Matangi Island.
8. It respires through its exoskeleton.
Image Credit: pablo via Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Similar to other insects, the weta lacks lungs and instead breathes through its exoskeleton. Tiny openings in its outer shell link to tubes that deliver oxygen to every cell within the insect’s body.
9. Its ears are located on its knees.
The auditory openings functioning as weta ears are situated just below the knee joint on their forelegs.
10. It predates certain dinosaurs.
Fossils dating back to the Triassic period, approximately 190 million years ago, exhibit remarkable resemblances to the weta species found in New Zealand today.
