Cave Weta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Superfamily: Rhaphidophoroidea
Family: Rhaphidophoridae
Species: Talitropsis sediloti
Common name; Cave weta, Cave crickets, Tokoriro
Cave weta are found all over NZ and there about 60 species The cave weta's have very long antennae and legs and can jump up to two metres. They are silent creatures and cannot hear They are mostly found in caves, or hollow logs and dark places.hiding from predators like rats. Generally they are harmless and can live up to seven years.
Thanks to Mary Morgan-Richards Senior Lecturer Ecology Group/INR Massey University for identifying this weta
A cave weta( Talitropsis sediloti) hiding in a hole in a tree trunk. NB has only one hind leg.
A male cave weta gymnoplectron uncata ( Not photographed inthe Te Henui area.)
Video on the Cave Weta
Click image to view the video
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