Author Topic: Giant Weta - The heaviest insect on planet (Read 3621 times)

_noXiouS_ · « **on:** April 22, 2010, 11:57:12 AM »

Giant wetas are species of weta in the genus Deinacrida of the family Anostostomatidae. Giant wetas are endemic to New Zealand.
There are 11 species of giant weta, most of which are significantly larger than other weta, despite already being large by insect standards. They are heavy insects with a body length of up to 10 cm (4 in) not inclusive of its lengthy legs and antennae, and weigh more than 71 g (2.5 oz), making it one of the heaviest documented insects in the world and heavier than a sparrow. 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.

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.

Giant Weta facts:

The Little Barrier Island Weta, or 'Wetapunga' as it was known to the Maori, is one of the largest and heaviest insects 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’,

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 so heavy that it cannot jump,

The weta is sometimes known as the dinosaur of the insect world,

The weta has changed very little in the past 100 MILLION YEARS!,

At around two years old the female will lay 100-300 eggs. The parents will die before the weta eggs hatch 3-5 months later.

Punjabi Janta Forums - Janta Di Pasand · « **on:** April 22, 2010, 11:57:12 AM »

_Beast_ · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2010, 10:09:03 PM »

ehe ki protein shake peinde??? :happy:

ஜღ RaJღஜ · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2010, 04:00:28 AM »

YAAR TUC EDDAN EDDAN DIYA PIC KITTO LAB DE HO....HMMMMMMMMMM

• » ting ling « • · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2010, 04:03:10 AM »

mummy hayeeeeeeeeeeee dar lagda

TheStig · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2010, 05:11:40 PM »

eww thats huge.
New zealand ch ne nice but am not expecting them to see when I go there :D

Kudrat Kaur · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2010, 05:44:36 PM »

=D> informative one....zoology was one my fav subjects....wud like to add one more insect. named Scolopendra Gigantea, 34 cm long..and carnivorous in nature..very poisionous found in South- American Forests..

TheStig · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2010, 05:46:47 PM »

oh god !! thats big and carnivorous !! better be careful

_noXiouS_ · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2010, 12:20:00 PM »

that one reminds me of shrimp...cook and yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :pagel:

TheStig · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2010, 08:23:06 AM »

Quote from: _noXiouS_ on April 24, 2010, 12:20:00 PM

that one reminds me of shrimp...cook and yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :pagel:

jeeez am vege

_noXiouS_ · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2010, 12:37:24 PM »

Quote from: ©o∂л@M47 on May 02, 2010, 08:23:06 AM

jeeez am vege

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

_Beast_ · « **Reply #10 on:** June 01, 2010, 11:32:53 AM »

SO i found out that weta can live under harsh conditions, these guys can handle some serious freezing temps. Even if 80% of their body water is ice, they are still alive, most of their body shut down and when temp rises, they are good to go again :happy:

i might make a different topic for these kinds fo animals who can live under worse conditions. :happy:

_noXiouS_ · « **Reply #11 on:** June 01, 2010, 11:53:43 AM »

Quote from: PENDU on June 01, 2010, 11:32:53 AM

SO i found out that weta can live under harsh conditions, these guys can handle some serious freezing temps. Even if 80% of their body water is ice, they are still alive, most of their body shut down and when temp rises, they are good to go again :happy:

i might make a different topic for these kinds fo animals who can live under worse conditions. :happy:

Animal Planet? yea, go for it, sounds like an interesting topic!

_Beast_ · « **Reply #12 on:** June 01, 2010, 11:55:31 AM »

Quote from: _noXiouS_ on June 01, 2010, 11:53:43 AM

Animal Planet? yea, go for it, sounds like an interesting topic!

you got it :happy: we on the same page once again. GO team ironman, we gotta come with a name for our team. :pagel:

Oranyo · « **Reply #13 on:** August 17, 2012, 09:39:52 PM »

hahaha man dats dammm massive

Author Topic: Giant Weta - The heaviest insect on planet (Read 3621 times)

_noXiouS_

Giant Weta - The heaviest insect on planet

Punjabi Janta Forums - Janta Di Pasand

Giant Weta - The heaviest insect on planet

_Beast_

Re: Giant Weta - The heaviest insect on planet

ஜღ RaJღஜ

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• » ting ling « •

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TheStig

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Kudrat Kaur

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TheStig

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_noXiouS_

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TheStig

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_noXiouS_

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_Beast_

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_noXiouS_

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_Beast_

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Oranyo

Re: Giant Weta - The heaviest insect on planet

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