Deinacrida heteracantha
Encyclopedia
Deinacrida heteracantha, also known as the Little Barrier Island giant weta, is a species of insect
, a type of cricket in family Anostostomatidae
that has no wings. It is endemic to New Zealand
, naturally surviving now only on Little Barrier Island. It was formerly found on the mainland (see & (2004: 187, fig. 1B) for details of early records). It was redescribed under the synonymous name Hemideina gigantea by Colenso
(1881), based on a specimen collected 'in a small low wood behind Paihia
, Bay of Islands
', in 1838. This specimen is still preserved in the collection of the Auckland War Memorial Museum
, and can be seen here. Records of this species from the North Island mainland at Mahoenui were later recognised as a distinct species, described as new by (1999), as Deinacrida mahoenui
.
It is the heaviest insect alive today. The largest specimen, a female, weighed 71g (2.5oz), three times heavier than the average house mouse, and was more than 85mm (3.4in) long.
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
, a type of cricket in family Anostostomatidae
Anostostomatidae
Anostostomatidae is a family in the order Orthoptera. It is sometimes referred to as Mimnermidae or Henicidae in some taxonomies, and common names include King crickets in South Africa, and wetas in New Zealand. They are believed to be most closely related to the Jerusalem crickets of North America...
that has no wings. It is endemic to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, naturally surviving now only on Little Barrier Island. It was formerly found on the mainland (see & (2004: 187, fig. 1B) for details of early records). It was redescribed under the synonymous name Hemideina gigantea by Colenso
William Colenso
William Colenso was a Cornish Christian missionary to New Zealand, and also a printer, botanist, explorer and politician.-Life:Born in Penzance, Cornwall, he was the cousin of John William Colenso, Bishop of Natal...
(1881), based on a specimen collected 'in a small low wood behind Paihia
Paihia
Paihia is the main tourist town in the Bay of Islands in the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located close to the historic towns of Russell, and Kerikeri, 60 kilometres north of Whangarei. The origin of the name Paihia is obscure. One, possibily apocryphal, attribution is to...
, Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is close to the northern tip of the country....
', in 1838. This specimen is still preserved in the collection of the Auckland War Memorial Museum
Auckland War Memorial Museum
The Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history , natural history, as well as military history.The museum is also one of the most iconic Auckland buildings, constructed in the neo-classicist...
, and can be seen here. Records of this species from the North Island mainland at Mahoenui were later recognised as a distinct species, described as new by (1999), as Deinacrida mahoenui
Deinacrida mahoenui
Deinacrida mahoenui is a species of insect in family Anostostomatidae. It is endemic to New Zealand....
.
It is the heaviest insect alive today. The largest specimen, a female, weighed 71g (2.5oz), three times heavier than the average house mouse, and was more than 85mm (3.4in) long.
Source
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1996. Deinacrida heteracantha. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 9 August 2007.