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Tree Weta
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Scott McDougall (Taggart)
![Silver Note Writer [C: 0 W: 0 N: 64]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/n-n-s.gif) (196) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-01-08 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Camera: Canon 300D, Canon EF100mm Macro |
| Exposure: f/8, 1/125 seconds |
| Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-01-07 22:04 |
| Viewed: 7026 |
| Points: 2 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I am glad it was me that found this Tree Weta next to my shoes at the foot of the bed this morning and not my wife.
Weta are one of New Zealand’s very special ancient animals. Although they are found elsewhere in the world, no other country can boast as many different kinds, nor the heavyweights.
One species, the rare giant weta, Deinacrida heteracantha, is the size of a mouse and holds the record as New Zealand's biggest endemic insect.
Weta are fierce looking relatives of grasshoppers, locusts, katydids and crickets. New Zealand has about 100 different kinds, split into two families – cave weta and true weta.
In the absence of most small land mammals, weta evolved to occupy the niches these animals fill elsewhere.
Although described as omnivorous, different weta species enjoy different diets. For example, tree weta and giant weta are mostly vegetarian. Ground weta and tusked weta are almost entirely carnivorous. While cave weta are omnivorous scavengers.
At night weta emerge from their hiding places to feed. You can sometimes hear the peculiar rasping sound they make by rubbing their hind legs against ridges on the side of their body. When threatened, weta raises its spine-studded hind legs and make a rasping sound to frighten off attackers.
www.kiwirecovery.org.nz |
Janice has marked this note useful
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- Janice
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(18832) - [2006-01-08 5:13]
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Great shot Scott, you show this one so sharp and clear! I can see he is angry as his back legs are raised up.
I bet your wife was thrilled you found it and not her. And nothing is worse than putting your feet in your shoes and finding a weta inside!
Well shown, thank you
Janice
