Giant Weta

There are 11 species of Giant Weta

The biggest and most ferocious weta! No, that’s not true. The Giant weta is a docile creature and does not kick or bite. To ward off predators (like you and me) it raises its spiky back legs
The gentle giant of the insect world, the giant weta prefers a vegetarian diet
The Giant Weta often lives under rocks and bush floor debris
The Giant Weta is soooo heavy that it cannot jump

Giant Weta species which are protected:

Poor Knights Weta - Deinacrida fallai
Wetapunga - Deinacrida heteracantha
Stephens Island Weta - Deinacrida rugosa
Kaikoura Weta - Deinacrida parva
Nelson Alpine Weta - Deinacrida tibiospina

Wetapunga is one of the species of Giant Weta....

The Little Barrier Island Weta, or 'Wetapunga' as it was known to the Maori, holds the record for the heaviest insect in the world
The largest weta recorded was a female and it weighed around THREE TIMES heavier than a mouse! (71 grams)
The Maori named the Little Barrier Island Giant Weta, ‘Wetapunga’, which means ‘god of ugly things’
Wetapunga used to be quite common throughout the northern part of the North Island and Great Barrier Island, but predators such as the rat have severely reduced their numbers and they are now only found on Little Barrier Island
Wetapunga have some favourite trees they like to live in; the kauri, pohutukawa and kanuka. The Giant Weta is not often found on the ground.

The Mahoenui Giant Weta is another species of Giant Weta....

It has found a good habitat. By living in gorse the weta is protected from enemies. Gorse is a spiky weed that farmers usually spray and burn to get rid of, but one special patch in the King Country is now protected because that is where the Mahoenui Giant Weta is hiding.

Mahoenui Weta

Not all Giant Weta are GIANT. They are 'Giant Weta' by species but not necessarily by size. For example, the Nelson Alpine Weta weighs around 7 grams on average, and the Kaikoura Weta can weigh up to 15 grams. The smaller species of Giant Weta have an advantage over the bigger Giant Weta because they find it easier to hide from predators.