Tree Weta (baby)

Description:

Tree weta are nocturnal and grow up to 40 mm long. The males, which usually have much larger jaws than the females and hiss and bite when threatened. Like grasshoppers they have ears on their front legs.

Habitat:

New Zealand native found in forest, gardens and on shrubs and commonly live in holes in trees formed by beetle and moth larvae or where rot has set in after a twig has broken off. The hole, called a gallery, is maintained by the weta and any growth of the bark surrounding the opening is chewed away.They eat the leaves of many different plants but prefer the softer leaves of species such as Mahoe or Karamu and they also eat small insects.

Notes:

Common names include Auckland Tree Weta, Tree Weta, Bush Weta, tokoriro. The word "Weta" is strickly a New Zealand name for a large flightless nocternal grasshopper. There are more than 70 species of weta in New Zealand, 16 of which are at risk.