Giant Weta - The World's Largest Insect

If you want to study one of these strange organisms, you had better have a good justification. It's not good to study gene organisation in some obscure insect that no one's ever heard about.
~Thomas R. Cech

Giant wetas are the largest insect species in the world. A couple of days ago, the largest ever giant weta was found and photographed on Little Barrier Island in New Zealand, the only known place where giant wetas still live. This particular giant weta weighs 71g (about 2.5 oz) - about as much as three mice and more than a sparrow.

Some giant weta facts:

• Giant wetas average 6" length and have  a 7" wingspan.
• They cannot fly.  
• Their antennae are usually twice their body length 
• They are nocturnal.
• The giant weta species has existed for 190 million years and has remained mostly unchanged in appearance.
• Giant weta are an endangered species.
• The Maori name for giant weta is wetapunga or "god of the ugly things."

Giant wetas are slow moving creatures and eat mainly the leaves of the trees they live in. They cannot fly or jump, or bite and rely on a heavy exoskeleton and stealth for defense. They can also make a hissing sound when disturbed.

They have a long life cycle for an insect, taking 18 months to reach maturity and living 6 months beyond that. They mate close to the end of their lifecycle. Giant weta eggs are laid in the soil - the female must leave the tree to lay them. The nymphs will moult 10 times before reaching adulthood.

Giant wetas thrived all across New Zealand before the arrival of humans and the mammals they brought with them. Polynesian rats in particular became predators of giant wetas. Between being eaten by rats and deforestation, the habitat of the giant weta has greatly decreased. This has earned them endangered status and there are conservation efforts being made to save the giant weta.

Note: I showed this story and picture to my kids, now they want a giant weta for christmas!

Something else I learned:Some people do not freak out when they are holding an insect the size of a rat in their hand.