Giant wētā are several species of wētā in the genus Deinacrida of the familyAnostostomatidae. Giant wētā are endemic to New Zealand and all but one species are protected by law because they are considered at risk of extinction.[1]
There are eleven species of giant wētā,[2] most of which are larger than other wētā, despite the latter also 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 35 g (1.2 oz). One gravid captive female reached a mass of about 70 g (2.47 oz), making it one of the heaviest insects in the world[3] and heavier than a sparrow. This is, however, abnormal, as this individual was unmated and retained an abnormal number of eggs. The largest species of giant wētā is the Little Barrier Island giant wētā, also known as the wētāpunga.[4] One example reported in 2011 weighed 71 g (2.50 oz).[5]
Giant wētā tend to be less social and more passive than other wētā. Their genus name, Deinacrida, means "terrible grasshopper", from the Greek word δεινός (deinos, meaning "terrible", "potent", or "fearfully great"), in the same way dinosaur means "terrible lizard". They are found primarily on New Zealand offshore islands, having been almost exterminated on the mainland islands by introduced mammalian pests.
Most populations of giant wētā have been in decline since humans began modifying the New Zealand environment. All but one giant wētā species is protected by law because they are considered at risk of extinction.[1] Three arboreal giant wētā species are found in the north of New Zealand and now restricted to mammal-free habitats. This is because the declining abundance of most wētā species, particularly giant wētā, can be attributed to the introduction of mammalian predators, habitat destruction, and habitat modification by introduced mammalian browsers. New populations of some wētā have been established in locations, particularly on islands, where these threats have been eliminated or severely reduced in order to reduce the risk of extinction.[6]Deinacrida heteracantha, and D. fallai are found only on near-shore islands that have no introduced predators (Te Hauturu-o-Toi and Poor Knights Island). The closely related species D. mahoenui is restricted to habitat fragments in North Island.[7]
Two closely related giant wētā species are less arboreal. Deinacrida rugosa is restricted to mammal-free reserves and D. parva is found near Kaikoura in South Island New Zealand.
Many giant wētā species are alpine specialists. Five species are only found at high elevation in South Island. The scree wētā D. connectens lives about 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level [8] and freezes solid when temperatures drop below −5 °C (23 °F).[9]
Herbivorous and gentle - an adult female giant wētā from Mana Island New Zealand (Deinacrida rugosa) is rare and endangered.
^ abTrewick, S (2012). "The conservation status of New Zealand Orthoptera". New Zealand Entomologist. 35 (2): 131–136. doi:10.1080/00779962.2012.686318. S2CID 219564547.
^Morgan-Richards, M (2001). "A phylogenetic analysis of New Zealand giant and tree wētā (Orthoptera : Anostostomatidae : Deinacrida and Hemideina) using morphological and genetic characters". Invertebrate Taxonomy. 15: 1–12. doi:10.1071/IT99022.
^Gibbs, George W. (2003). Weta. Morris, Rod, 1951-. Auckland [N.Z.]: Reed. ISBN1-86948-604-8. OCLC 155944595.
^"World's biggest insect is so huge it eats carrots". Telegraph. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
^Watts, Corinne (July 2008). "History of weta (Orthoptera : Anostostomatidae) translocation in New Zealand: lessons learned, islands as sanctuaries and the future". Journal of Insect Conservation. 12 (3–4): 359–370. doi:10.1007/s10841-008-9154-5. S2CID 43280140.
^Field, L (2001). The Biology of wetas, king crickets and their allies. UK: CABI. ISBN0851994083.
^Morgan-Richards, M (1996). "Colour, allozyme and karyotype variation in the New Zealand Giant Scree Weta Deinacrida connectens (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae)". Hereditas. 125: 265–276. doi:10.1111/j.1601-5223.1996.00265.x.
^Sinclair, B (1999). "Insect cold tolerance: How many kinds of frozen?". European Journal of Entomology. 96: 157–164.
External linksedit
Wikispecies has information related to Deinacrida.
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Saving New Zealand's prehistoric giant weta. Earthrise, Al Jazeera English, June 2018 (video, 10:22 mins)
November 23, 2023
giant, wētā, several, species, wētā, genus, deinacrida, family, anostostomatidae, endemic, zealand, species, protected, because, they, considered, risk, extinction, wētāpunga, deinacrida, heteracantha, overall, length, inches, scientific, classificationdomain,. Giant weta are several species of weta in the genus Deinacrida of the family Anostostomatidae Giant weta are endemic to New Zealand and all but one species are protected by law because they are considered at risk of extinction 1 Giant wetaWetapunga Deinacrida heteracantha overall length 20 cm 8 inches Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder OrthopteraSuborder EnsiferaFamily AnostostomatidaeSubfamily DeinacridinaeGenus DeinacridaWhite 1842SpeciesSee textThere are eleven species of giant weta 2 most of which are larger than other weta despite the latter also 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 35 g 1 2 oz One gravid captive female reached a mass of about 70 g 2 47 oz making it one of the heaviest insects in the world 3 and heavier than a sparrow This is however abnormal 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 4 One example reported in 2011 weighed 71 g 2 50 oz 5 Giant weta tend to be less social and more passive than other weta Their genus name Deinacrida means terrible grasshopper from the Greek word deinos deinos meaning terrible potent or fearfully great in the same way dinosaur means terrible lizard They are found primarily on New Zealand offshore islands having been almost exterminated on the mainland islands by introduced mammalian pests Contents 1 Habitat and distribution 2 Species list 3 References 4 External linksHabitat and distribution editMost populations of giant weta have been in decline since humans began modifying the New Zealand environment All but one giant weta species is protected by law because they are considered at risk of extinction 1 Three arboreal giant weta species are found in the north of New Zealand and now restricted to mammal free habitats This is because the declining abundance of most weta species particularly giant weta can be attributed to the introduction of mammalian predators habitat destruction and habitat modification by introduced mammalian browsers New populations of some weta have been established in locations particularly on islands where these threats have been eliminated or severely reduced in order to reduce the risk of extinction 6 Deinacrida heteracantha and D fallai are found only on near shore islands that have no introduced predators Te Hauturu o Toi and Poor Knights Island The closely related species D mahoenui is restricted to habitat fragments in North Island 7 Two closely related giant weta species are less arboreal Deinacrida rugosa is restricted to mammal free reserves and D parva is found near Kaikoura in South Island New Zealand Many giant weta species are alpine specialists Five species are only found at high elevation in South Island The scree weta D connectens lives about 1 200 m 3 900 ft above sea level 8 and freezes solid when temperatures drop below 5 C 23 F 9 nbsp Herbivorous and gentle an adult female giant weta from Mana Island New Zealand Deinacrida rugosa is rare and endangered Species list editDeinacrida carinata Herekopare weta Deinacrida connectens Scree weta Deinacrida elegans Bluff weta Deinacrida fallai Poor Knights giant weta Deinacrida heteracantha Little Barrier Island giant weta Deinacrida mahoenui Mahoenui giant weta Deinacrida parva Kaikoura giant weta Deinacrida pluvialis Mt Cook giant weta Deinacrida rugosa Cook Strait giant weta Deinacrida talpa Giant mole weta Deinacrida tibiospina Mt Arthur giant wetaReferences edit a b Trewick S 2012 The conservation status of New Zealand Orthoptera New Zealand Entomologist 35 2 131 136 doi 10 1080 00779962 2012 686318 S2CID 219564547 Morgan Richards M 2001 A phylogenetic analysis of New Zealand giant and tree weta Orthoptera Anostostomatidae Deinacrida and Hemideina using morphological and genetic characters Invertebrate Taxonomy 15 1 12 doi 10 1071 IT99022 Book of Insect Records Gibbs George W 2003 Weta Morris Rod 1951 Auckland N Z Reed ISBN 1 86948 604 8 OCLC 155944595 World s biggest insect is so huge it eats carrots Telegraph 1 December 2011 Retrieved 26 August 2012 Watts Corinne July 2008 History of weta Orthoptera Anostostomatidae translocation in New Zealand lessons learned islands as sanctuaries and the future Journal of Insect Conservation 12 3 4 359 370 doi 10 1007 s10841 008 9154 5 S2CID 43280140 Field L 2001 The Biology of wetas king crickets and their allies UK CABI ISBN 0851994083 Morgan Richards M 1996 Colour allozyme and karyotype variation in the New Zealand Giant Scree Weta Deinacrida connectens Orthoptera Stenopelmatidae Hereditas 125 265 276 doi 10 1111 j 1601 5223 1996 00265 x Sinclair B 1999 Insect cold tolerance How many kinds of frozen European Journal of Entomology 96 157 164 External links edit nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Deinacrida nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deinacrida Saving New Zealand s prehistoric giant weta Earthrise Al Jazeera English June 2018 video 10 22 mins Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Giant weta amp oldid 1134303308, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
