Male New Zealand Tree Weta

**Full View is Best **

New Zealand Tree weta, sometimes known as the bush weta and is the most common type of weta and usually makes its home in the holes of trees. Males are quite aggressive and will fight other males. It hisses and bites when threatened. Has a varied diet and will eat both plants and other insects. Male wetas are popular with the females - one male will have up to 10 females living with him!!

The Weta has a huge head! What makes it big is the mandible - lower jaw that is used for biting and crushing food.


This male was shot this morning with my 100mm Macro Lens. I actually like the critters, simply because they are so ugly. They get a lot of bad press because of this, but they're actually harmless - the bite can be painful but it's not dangerous.