- Giant weta
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Giant weta 
Poor Knights Islands giant weta
Deinacrida fallai
Overall length 20 cm (8 in)Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Orthoptera Family: Anostostomatidae Genus: Deinacrida
White, 1842Species See text.
Giant wetas are species of weta in the genus Deinacrida of the family Anostostomatidae. Giant wetas are endemic to New Zealand, and are examples of island gigantism.
There are 11 species of giant weta, most of which are larger than other weta, despite the latter already 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 35g. One captive female reached a mass of about 70 g (2.5 oz), making it one of the heaviest documented insects in the world [1] and heavier than a sparrow. This is, however, unnatural 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. Giant weta tend to be less social and more passive than other weta. Their genus name, Deinacrida, is Greek for terrible grasshopper. They are found primarily on New Zealand offshore islands, having been almost exterminated on the mainland islands by introduced mammalian pests.
Species
- Deinacrida carinata Salmon, 1950 Foveaux Strait giant weta
- Deinacrida connectens (Ander, 1939) Alpine scree giant weta
- Deinacrida elegans Gibbs, 1999 Bluff giant weta
- Deinacrida fallai Salmon, 1950 Poor Knights giant weta
- Deinacrida heteracantha White, 1842 Little Barrier Island giant weta
- Deinacrida mahoenui Gibbs, 1999 Mahoenui giant weta
- Deinacrida parva Buller, 1895 Kaikoura giant weta
- Deinacrida pluvialis Gibbs, 1999 Giant weta
- Deinacrida rugosa Buller, 1871 Cook Strait giant weta
- Deinacrida talpa Gibbs, 1999 Giant mole weta
- Deinacrida tibiospina Salmon, 1950 Mt Arthur giant weta
References
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