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Animal profile

Giant Weta

Deinacrida heteracantha

InsectaForest and scrub on predator-free offshore islands, sheltering in vegetation by dayVulnerable

Field profile

The wetapunga, or Little Barrier giant weta, is among the heaviest insects in the world, with large gravid females exceeding 30 grams. It is flightless, nocturnal and mainly herbivorous. Introduced mammals eliminated it from the mainland, leaving one island refuge.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2025-05-17

Giant Weta

New Zealand's giant weta occupy a rodent-like role

New Zealand had no land mammals apart from bats before humans arrived. In their absence, large flightless insects took up ground-level browsing and shelter-seeking habits, which is why the wetapunga is often described as an ecological stand-in for a mouse.

Read with evidence →

Giant Weta | Daily Animal Facts