high pitched rasping sound, almost a Eggs and Egg Laying hissing sound. This sound is produced on ARTICLE 5. Raising Hemideina wetas both the reverse, and forward strokes The adult female laid many eggs. These from egg to adult when agitated, and whilst upside down or were cigar shaped, greyish black and 4.5 right side up. to 5 mm long. They are positioned While upside down if the aggressor (e.g. vertically like those of other weta species. a finger) touches the middle of the body, The eggs were laid in the soil of the ice This article describes the methods and The wetas can be given 20 mm lengths of the weta will envelop it with its legs and cream container. An adult male was materials I used to raise the nymphs of 5 mm diameter plastic tube for sheltering bite hard. This is followed by two or present with the female previously so it four species of Hemideina wetas. I have in. These can be attached to the walls of three additional good bites before the weta was hoped that the eggs would be fertile. written the article to explain the best way the tank. They not only provide shelter will release and kick away to once again They were laid during April as was the to accomplish this fascinating aspect of but are good for observation of the assume the upside down defensive case with with Hemideina crassidens and weta husbandry. The methods discussed nymphs and are convenient during posture. The weta may persevere with H. thoracica. are 'tried and true' and I found them servicing. These tubes work well up to the biting or it may freeze or, having first applicable to all the Hemideina species I the 3rd instar but after this the nymphs kicked away, it may run to escape. have bred. become more sensitive to daylight and prefer dark shelter. The tubes should be The article is divided into two sections. either painted or dark-coloured tubes The first deals with the hatching of used. The diameter of the tubes should nymphs and their growth up to the 5th be increased as the nymphs grow. The instar. The second section covers the 6th second method is to employ plastic food instar to adult stages. Feeding, containers as described below. accommodation, moulting, behaviour of nymphs, and the management of new adults in preparation for the next Rearing Techniques generation are covered. The communal enclosure has one serious disadvantage. Weta nymphs are highly cannibalistic. This behaviour is very From egg to fifth instar common in nymphs, beginning soon after hatching and continuing to 5th instar. Housing and Habitat Although cannibalism occurs in the older instars, it is less serious then. Right from Two methods can be used to house the hatching, nymphs will be competing with nymphs. The first is to use a glass tank each other for available food and shelter, similar to that for keeping adult wetas both in the field and in captivity. Cannibalistic predation in the early instars measuring 60 cm by 30 cm by 30 cm which would be a minimum size. Soil may be a strong incentive to disperse. In should be spread on the floor, (depth is later instars cannibalism occurs mainly unimportant), leaf litter sprinkled on top, when newly moulted nymphs are eaten. and plenty of twigs and branches provided for climbing.

With this problem in mind I opted for the because food, when dead, quickly Unnatural Food time so that the first instar nymph second method of accommodation. This becomes mouldy if left for more than two appears, leaving behind its embryonic involved using plastic food containers days. Water is necessary and easily Unnatural foods such as dog sausage, cuticle. The pronotum has a bluish grey such as are used for margarine, cottage provided by misting the plant food prior apple and lettuce can also be used to good film over it which is retained for a few cheese and so on. The lids of these to placing it in the containers, and by affect. However these items should be hours after the nymph has hatched. The containers were perforated with a hot wire misting the container. used in moderation as they can cause nymphs range in size from 6 to 8 mm to give good ventilation. Soil, leaf litter indigestion and scouring. Often a nymph depending on the species. Hatching and a few twigs were supplied to make a Plant Food will die from having prolapsed its rectum occurs usually at night and the nymphs mini-environment for the nymph. Initially Feeding nymphs from the 1st to the 5th if the wrong food has been administered. disperse quickly around the enclosure. I used hollowed-out blackberry and instar is easy. Clumps of the common Apple is liable to do this but, when raspberry canes of 90 to 100 mm long. weed Hydrocotyle americana (wax weed), fresh, is very popular. Unnatural foods Later I used plastic tubes until the nymphs which is a mat plant growing in shady or are best fed once or twice a week only Behaviour reached the 3rd instar. Then they simply sheltered parts of lawns and grassy areas, and then fed together with a natural food hid in the leaf litter on the bottom of the were dug up, divided into small pieces item. As the nymphs easily become The newly hatched wetas have a strong container. with soil attached, and placed in each addicted to an artificial diet, moderation is urge to climb upwards, and in my container. The wetas in their early instars important. enclosures were conveniently hiding, Whilst the nymphs sheltered in the tubes, were very fond of it and the plant is massed together, under the lid each servicing the containers was very straight readily available at the time the nymphs morning. It is best to remove the adult forward. The nymph could be seen, food hatch, from October onwards. Eggs wetas during the hatching period as could be replaced and the droppings Chickweed, puha, dandelion and plantain predation of the nymphs by the adults is removed without disturbance. Droppings are all useful as they are tender enough The eggs of the four Hemideina weta inevitable. were deposited all over the container and for the wetas to manage. All of these species I have reared to date range from the nymphs were not upset when they plants wilt quickly and so must be 4.5 to 7mm long. They are all cigar- were removed. Once the nymphs started replaced each day. shaped, various shades of grey to black hiding in the leaf litter, care had to be and are laid singly in soil in an upright Sixth instar to adult taken as the wetas were camouflaged and Food position. The egg may be buried from a the risk of removing them, along with the few mm to as much as 10 or 20 mm deep By the 6th instar, Hemideina wetas can be rubbish, was high. I found the nymphs Insect food is very popular and appears to when laid. treated as adults as far as feeding and considerably more amenable to be essential. Animal protein is very general care are concerned. They are disturbance during cleaning and servicing important in early instars. Midges, easily handled now, being larger and than the adults. Food was the main houseflies, small caterpillars, aphids, and Hatching stronger. Their threat display is used problem until the preferences were small moths are all acceptable. with vigour and the nymphs will bite to discovered. The main disadvantage of Generally I feed maimed or freshly dead The mature embryo splits the egg shell or defend themselves. They should be keeping wetas in separate containers is the . In the field I have seen chorion by building up pressure inside the placed in 2 litre ice-cream containers or considerable work-load servicing them Hemideina crassidens nymphs of various egg. This is done by the large pulsating larger at this stage to accommodate their dilations of the neck membranes behind involves. sizes feeding on thrips, aphids and moths. greater size. If left in accommodation Weta nymphs of all species I have kept the head and the spine or egg-tooth on the lacking in space the nymphs continue to scavenge for dead or injured insects and front of the head. The split in the egg grow but their antennae and legs become chorion is usually longitudinal passing Food some deliberately kill healthy ones. The bent and distorted. feeding behaviour is described on page over the top of the egg, and enables the The nymphs should be fed every second 28. embryo to escape and wriggle up to the day and the container cleaned out as well soil surface. Here it moults for the first

The nymphs are easier to find in the leaf Food Up to the 5th instar, Hemideina wetas remaining in this position. It is litter now and are much easier to weigh moult approximately every 4 weeks. imperative that the nymph remains ind measure. Ideally they should still be From the 6th instar onwards nymphs are After this the duration between moults undisturbed. kept separate as cannibalism remains a fed in the same way as adults. The lengthens to 2 to 3 months. The nymph problem and, as well, disturbance to a Hydrocotyle should be discontinued as the increases in weight and size, the abdomen The moult itself will take from 2 to 6 moulting weta can be just as lethal as nymphs now have digestive problems with in particular continuing to enlarge and hours to complete. This is variable cannibalism. it and start scouring. At this stage also lengthen until it reaches a maximum. At according to temperature, humidity and many nymphs go off Hydrocotyle and this point the nymph prepares to moult. individual variability. The skin splits prefer more coarse foliage. Food suitable The stated intervals between instars occur along the pronotum first and then Harems for the nymphs is taupata, karamu, Hebe, only if the nymph has experienced good continues down the rest of the thorax. Euonymus , willow, ngaio, plantain, and varied food availability and if no The line on the head also splits. The [n captivity, adult wetas should be given Buddleia, kowhai, mahoe, apple and pear health complications have occurred. weta pushes, pulls and extends itself out the opportunity to organise themselves leaves. After sixth instar, lettuce should Otherwise the intervals are longer. of the old skin writhing the abdomen and into harems, or breeding groups. All be left out of the diet but apple and carrot arching the thorax. This continues until four Hemideina species I have kept - can be fed in moderation. The nymph goes through a number of all that remains to be done is the pulling crassicruris, crassidens, maori, and changes just prior to ecdysis. It becomes of the limbs from the exuvia. The weta thoracica - do this. Occasionally a 9th The insect food given is the same as that subdued and unwilling to defend itself. is then free. instar female will be accepted into such a fed to 1st to 5th instar nymphs except that The exoskeleton becomes slightly paler in group but only at the bottom of the larger insects can now be colour. The hind tibiae have the most Immediately after ecdysis the nymph pecking order - she is invariably the last added to the menu - crickets, katydids, noticeable change in colour. The thorax hangs from the exuvia by its hind legs. to be allowed back into the gallery. cicadas and mealworms for instance. Dog and abdomen develop fine wrinkles and At this point whilst still quite soft and sausage, new-born mice and ox-heart will the exoskeleton has a stretched while the exuvia is soft and damp the Large adult males have little difficulty in be appreciated from time to time. appearance. At this stage the nymph will nymph pulls itself up onto the old skin holding their gallery and harem against be due to moult in 1 to 2 days. and begins to eat it. Generally the whole smaller males, but smaller ones cannot Although after the 6th instar nymphs can exuvia is eaten but the hind tibiae and gape their mandibles as wide and be given water in soaked cotton-wool Ecdysis normally takes place at night. 1st other fragments are often left. This therefore cannot win ritualised fights such wads, it is still better administered in the to 5th instar nymphs will sometimes moult behaviour is of special interest as other as occur between evenly sized males. separate containers by spraying the during the day but the sequence of events insects such as cockroaches, earwigs, foliage. Consumption of bark and leaf leading up to ecdysis are usually timed for katydids, crickets, and praying mantis Artificial galleries as described in the first litter becomes apparent at this stage and nocturnal moulting. The nymph in often abandon their moulted exuviae article of this series should be supplied. should be encouraged. Hemideina wetas has a distinct fine uneaten. I have observed this behaviour Only one male and a maximum of four ecdysial line which begins on the cranial in Hemiandrus, Deinacrida and females should be housed together. part of the head and passes down the rhaphidophorid (cave) wetas as well as in Replacement males and females can be Moulting middle of the thorax, ending on the third Hemideina. kept in separate containers such as 2-litre thoracic tergite, the metanotum. The ice cream cartons. This nucleus is viable Good feeding and ideal conditions are exoskeleton splits open at this point. A newly moulted weta is easily and capable of producing the next crucial to a successful ecdysis or moult. recognised by its larger size and generation. In preparation for ecdysis the weta will somewhat telescoped withdrawn abdomen. climb onto the twigs provided and will The new cuticle is soft and immediately hang head down. The twigs are gripped after ecdysis it is a creamy brown colour. with all or most of the legs. Ecdysis occurs after some hours of quietly

The compound eyes and the tips of the stridulation is apparent from the 3rd instar of all Hemideina wetas start biting to the hind legs as well. If the prey appears mandibles are conspicuously black. After on. Sometimes 2nd instar nymphs defend themselves from the 5th instar but behind, the weta will stamp on it with the 24 hours although the new instar has threaten too but they usually prefer to run this is only useful against small enemies hind legs, turn rapidly and then engulf the assumed its usual colours they will darken away or freeze. Nymphs will use a kick- such as predatory insects or spiders. The prey with its legs. Then it will bite even back action of the hind tibiae from the 1st bite of an 8th or 9th instar nymph can be repeatedly, moving its head downwards so more as the cuticle fully hardens. The instar onwards. This is to discourage effective against such predators as lizards that each bite is in a different place. new instar does not feed for 2 to 3 days another weta from evicting it. It is also or mice. This predaceous behaviour is most as it waits for its cuticle to completely used against other enemies. The threat successful with meal worms, grubs, harden. posture is readily used from 4th instar Feeding beetles, and earwigs. Katydids, onwards and stridulation is clearly audible Weta feeding behaviour varies from one grasshoppers, crickets, and other large The feeding urge in 1st to 5th instar by this stage. By the 3rd instar species to another. The Hemiandrus active insects often escape by jumping nymphs recommences sooner, often Hemideina wetas can communicate with wetas are the most predatory of the backwards, so I usually maim them to within 24 hours, so food must be each other and with older wetas. species I have kept and thoroughly search make their capture by the weta easier. available at all times to ensure strong even their enclosure in a slow deliberate Wetas will follow in the direction of growth. A Hemideina weta can attain The eviction behaviour has brought about manner, investigating leaf litter, escaping prey but cease the pursuit if they adulthood from hatching in 13 to 18 an adaptation in Hemideina weta nymphs excavating the ground beneath, looking lose the trail. months. and adult females. The hind tibiae are into nooks and crannies on branches, thicker with heavier spines in nymphs and beneath bark, amongst foliage and so on. Deinacrida wetas are rather like females. Due to the fact that male wetas Having located an insect the weta lunges Hemideina in their feeding behaviour and Regeneration of appendages carry out most evictions by taking hold of and quickly overpowers and encircles it will make a lunge once a living insect has the hind tibia in the mandibles and that with its first two legs, biting repeatedly. been located. However they are Regeneration of limbs, palps, cerci, nymphs and adult females are less I have seen them capture healthy vigorous haphazard and seem rather inefficient. antennae, tarsi etc., can only occur during assertive than males, the more robust hind prey as large and powerful as the black They inspect prospective prey, moving the the nymphal stages. If a leg is lost it can tibiae prevent too much damage being field cricket, Teleogryllus commodus. head with opened jaws and palpating palps be gradually regrown with each ecdysis. done. The thickness of the hind tibiae is Once captured, the prey is often carried over it. If it is lost one or two instars before the different in male and female nymphs also away by Hemiandrus wetas. Other kinds adult moult the new adult will have only except that in the female this does not of weta do not do this. In general wetas are not efficient a small partly regenerated limb. This become obvious until the 7th instar. predators of living insects and scavenge limb ceases to grow when the weta is Amongst the Hemideina wetas the feeding what they can, and make the most of any adult. Repair of damaged joints is Hemideina Maori uses its unique rolling behaviour varies also. Of the four opportunities that come their way. achieved at each ecdysis. The extent to over threat display from 4th instar species I have kept, H. Maori is the one Hemiandrus, Hemideina Maori, and H. which a weta can repair itself is onwards. It will readily face an attacker most inclined to capture live prey, H. crassicruris show the greatest preference remarkable. Antennae can be almost with exposed mandibles and raised front crassicruris less so, and H. crassidens and for live insects. totally regenerated during one moult. legs from this stage on also. The nymphs H. thoracica the least so. Although H. Maori feeds on foliage like the other wetas, it actively scavenges for insects, Sexual Maturity Behaviour thoroughly inspecting the whole of its enclosure during its nightly forays. Even Adult female Hemideina wetas are easily Aggression so it is not as thorough as Hemiandrus. recognisable by their colour and The typical threat posture, the raising of If H. Maori locates living prey it lunges by the shape of their fully-formed hind legs and their subsequent slashing and encircles the victim with its front ovipositors and cerci. These are finer down movement and associated and middle legs and sometimes with and sharper than those of the nymphs. It

is similar with adult males no matter how have an influence. A 7th instar adult many instars they have been through - male can hold a harem provided he is not their colours are richer tans and browns challenged by a larger adult. Of all the ARTICLE 6. Keeping the Mahoenui than in the nymphs; their mandibles are adult stages, 8th and 9th instar males are giant weta, Deinacrida sp. longer, sharper, and slimmer than those the most common*. of nymphs; and their abdominal cerci are distinctly curved in comparison with the Females always require 10 instars before more spikey cerci of the nymphs. they are mature, even though there is Hemideina wetas are usually adult by the variation in their size. At each instar At the beginning of 19891 was privileged heads characteristic of Hemideina wetas. 10th instar. In both H. crassidens and there are large and small individuals but to receive my first group of Giant wetas. the variation in no way compares with the Mahoenui giant weta has attained a weight H. crassicruris, males can be sexually The species, unnamed, came from mature at the 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th (adult) extent of that occurring in the adult males. of 15 g in females and 12 g in males in my Mahoenui near Te Kuiti in the King programme. Up to the 6th instar nymphs of These weights are far instar. Country. It was the first endangered heavier than both sexes grow at the same rate. Sexually Maturity of Males those of Hemideina species I have worked on. These notes are crassidens. Elongation of the male's head does not How are adult males distinguished from based on the maintenance of the group of commence until the 7th instar. Two nymphs apart from by their size and head 22 wetas at Zoo as well as a Mahoenui giant weta hides in trees but options face a 6th instar male nymph. It length? Firstly there arecolour smaller group of six at my home in frequently feeds on plants on the ground. can either become a mature adult after the differences - the black etchings of the Raumati, Paraparaumu. normally occurs in the bushes or next moult and cease growing, or it may femora are more pronounced, and the trees which are its refuge. continue as a nymph and undergo further brown colouration of the head, leg joints, The weta This weta proved to be fascinating to possesses long legs and antennae which moults. The factors influencing these and hind tibiae are more strongly tanned study and it is hoped I will be able to in the adult. Secondly there are suggest a primarily arboreal existence. courses of events are not understood. compare it with other Deinacrida wetas However, the phenomenon does provide morphological distinctions, especially the later. I am very grateful to Mike Meads an explanation for the great variability in shape of the abdominal cerci. In male The Mahoenui weta has adapted well to and Alison Ballance of D.S.I.R. Land living in gorse, Ulex europaeus, the size of males, and for the fact that nymphs and all females these are which is Resources, for sharing with me their very different from its probable original some adult specimens have only slightly relatively straight and rather like spikes knowledge of this species. habitat of native bush. Apart from feeding enlarged heads. In some cases a mature whereas in adult males they are always on gorse i.e. flowers, seed pods, foliage adult male is smaller than male nymphs. relatively longer, and curved. Thirdly Fig. 5 illustrates this species showing how and bark the Mahoenui weta feeds on a Temperature, humidity and food quality there are differences in behaviour. different it is compared to the Hemideina wide variety of quantity probably all have an Although a male nymph will hold a other plants and and wetas. Compared to other giant weta considerable amounts of insects. Nymphs influence but do not account for the fact gallery and evict other wetas (smaller than species, this one is of medium size. An in particular feed on insects. that only males are involved. Disease itselfl) it does not form a harem or adult length of 65 to 74 mm is usual for and parasites such as nematodes may also attempt to copulate with females. females and 45 to 49 mm for males. This This species is quite unique although it size difference occurs throughout nymphal does bear some resemblances to life also. Her length is increased even . It is unusual in *Variation in the number of moults or nymphal stages taken to reach maturity is not infrequent more by her ovipositor. Male giant that it comes in two different colour amongst orthopteroid insects, but invariably individuals which have taken fewer moults to reach wetas do not possess the elongated maturity exhibit all the morphological characters of adults. Sexual maturity in individuals exhibiting phases, the usual dark mahogany brown nymphal characteristics (known as neotony) is very rare even though mature spermatozoa may be and an attractive yellowish brown and present in the final instar nymphs. One example of this phenomenon has been reported in stick speckled colouration. insects, one in mantids, and one case of several hybrid nymphs of the crickets Gryllus campestris x G. bimaculatus, and another of three locust specimens, Locusta migratoria migratorioides (see Chopard 1938 "La biologie des Orthopteres"). In the latter case it was probably the result of hormonal disharmony and in none of the above cases could it be regarded as normal, as it is with the Hemideina wetas mentioned above. Thus if Paul Barrett's interpretation is correct this is the first example of true neotony being normal in orthopteroid insects. - G.W. Ramsay

Fig. 5 Mahoenui weta, female Deinacrida sp. adults, and 2 litre plastic ice-cream This was changed periodically as it cartons for singly accommodated nymphs. disintegrated. Due to the dryer conditions Fig. 6 shows the cages in detail. of the giant weta cages this procedure was This weta is not gregarious. Males in not as frequent as it was in Hemideina particular are prone to territorial disputes. weta enclosures. With this in mind I kept the adults in pairs of one male and one female in each Climbing material consisted of 60 to 70 cage. The nymphs settled well in their cm sprigs of gorse. This was put in fresh ice-cream cartons but presented two and new gorse was added periodically. problems in their final instars. They Some of the original gorse was left to needed plenty of space in order to moult avoid unnecessary disturbance. satisfactorily as in a confined space the legs and antennae will not straighten The ice-cream boxes were furnished with properly. Large sub-adult nymphs short gorse sprigs i.e. 100 to 120 mm disliked the cartons and tended to chew lengths and some shelter. No soil was their way out through the plastic lids. In added as it increased the humidity in the their final instars therefore, the nymphs boxes when they were misted with water were placed in cages similar to those of to an intolerably high level. Giant wetas adults. are known to be susceptible to fungal infections and require much drier Nymphs of this species eat more often conditions than Hemideina wetas. than do adults, especially younger nymphs, and they tend to eat more animal Shelter for the adults comprised and protein. The behaviour of nymphs gum bark shelters. The gum bark was in regarding shelter and movement around naturally curled up rolls and was simply their enclosures is similar to that of stacked securely in the cage. The pine adults. Housing bark shelters consisted of two pieces of bark approximately 250 mm by 150 mm, joined together and wired in place. One The requirements of this species are quite end was open and this allowed easy access The inner tibial spine at the end of the different in many ways from those of tibia near the tarsus, is movable in the Habitat inside for the weta. The shelters were Hemideina wetas. I opted for cages and leaned vertically against the wall of the hind leg of the Mahoenui weta. fitted them out in a natural setting. I used cage with the entrance hole facing up, or reptile cages* for the In the cages soft friable soil was sifted and mounded to a depth of 80 mm . It they were laid on their side against the was spread throughout the floor area and wall. Both types of shelter were used by covered with loose leaf litter. the wetas.

* wooden boxes 122 cm long, 61 cm high, and 30.5 cm deep with front of glass or perspex and rear of insect mesh.

Fig. 6 Cage set up for one pair of Mahoenui Giant Wetas Environmental Conditions A wide range of plant foods was tried Those readily consumed are as follows I kept the giant wetas in a room at the zoo gorse, taupata, karamu, Hebe, mahoe which had a temperature 5°C higher than Buddleia, ngaio, willow, plantain the temperature outside. Below 6°C I Euonymus, and dandelion. Unnatural found this weta would become quiescent, plant food items offered were apple an neither moving or eating. It tolerated carrot. All of these were eaten in varying higher temperatures and even appeared amounts but gorse, taupata and willow quite content, albeit very active, at 30°C. were the firm favourites. Dead leaf litter The adults even remained in the gorse in was eaten in varying amounts and some sunlight on some occasions. I would leaves were preferred dead rather than suggest that a range of between 10°C and alive e.g. gum and karaka. Bark of 25°C would be optimum. This is the ngaio and Coprosma was consumed also. same temperature that is required for the other types of weta I have cared for. Insect food eaten consisted of various species of moths (particularly noctuids), The cages were well ventilated and cicadas, katydids, crickets, mealworm spraying with water was limited to the soil larvae and adults, grass grubs both larvae only in order to minimise fungal and adult beetles, locust nymphs, some infections. A jar-lid of water was spiders and caterpillars. This weta was provided on the floor of the cages from more inclined to eat beetles than were the which the wetas could drink. The wetas Hemideina wetas. Unnatural animal prefer to roost in dry elevated positions material eaten consisted of raw ox-heart, and are prone to fungal infections if dog sausage and new born mice. The ox- conditions get too damp. I found a heart was the most popular out of these humidity level of 40% to 50% was items. A Glass or perspex front adequate for maintaining this species of B Service lid on top or on back giant weta. C Stock label gives information on wetas inside D Pine bark shelter Food Foliage other than gorse was presented in E Gorse climbing material sprigs of two to eight leaves and placed in the jar lids of drinking water. This kept F Food plant This species, like all other wetas I have G Water dish for drinking and food Fig. 6a Container for single the foliage fresh and it was replaced each kept, is omnivorous, feeding on a wide day. Usually, two insect foods were plant nymphs range of plant and insect food. Feeding H Leaf litter spread on soil A 2 litre ice-cream container offered simultaneously, the insects being in wetas is of particular interest to me and injured or killed and placed on a I Friable soil. 80 mm deep B Climbing branch for moulting I was intrigued to find out the amount of prominent leaf in the cage. This enabled J Gum bark shelter - naturally curled C Lid with perforated air holes insect food this weta was willing to the wetas' consumption to be accurately pieces D Stock label sample. K Ventilation on either side. Steel E Food plant monitored. The nymphs definitely ate insect mesh F Fresh gorse more insect food than adults. The wetas It is interesting to note that this weta's usually fed every 2nd to 3rd day. relatively new environment, gorse, has a high fauna, a large amount Water was available in the jar lids but of which is diurnal, ideal for a nocturnal foliage food was sprayed before being weta out foraging.

placed in cages and ice-cream cartons. claws and freeing the tarsus, and then This biting cannot be compared to the much coarser and the sound organ on the Both methods of administering water were lifting the leg. The extremities - legs and powerful nip of Hemideina wetas, but the abdomen is made up of one raised area satisfactory to the wetas. Cotton wool tarsi - actually tremble whilst in motion. mandibles on Mahoenui wetas are instead of a series of ridges, like a file, wads soaked in water, as used with other The weta is capable of running quite fast nevertheless very strong and the weta is on the Hemideina wetas. weta species, were not used because the but only does this in short bursts, capable of chewing plastic as readily as increased surface area of the wads particularly when disturbed. In spite of any other species. Apart from this sound the Mahoenui weta increased the humidity. its weight this species can jump short can produce a rubbing sound by distances. It will jump across to a new ' telescoping' its abdominal segments, and area or, more readily, jump downwards. Shelter it can tick quite audibly. These sounds Behaviour These jumps do not compare to those are similar to those of other Deinacrida even of Hemideina crassidens which is The Mahoenui weta appeared to have no wetas and the abdominal sounds of particular preference as to which kind of The habits of the Mahoenui weta are quite not a good jumper. Small nymphs of this Hemideina crassicruris. shelter it favoured. different from Hemideina species. I species, like other wetas, jump freely. The shelters provided found it to be easily disturbed at night and were the most popular but it would also Like other Deinacrida and Hemideina once upset it would sit for very long hide in the gorse or in the leaf litter on wetas this species has a prominent the floor. periods. It took a great deal of patience Grooming The wetas would invariably auditory tympanum on the front tibiae, return to the same hiding place as long as below the 'knee' joint. I have not as yet to observe this weta at night. Nymphs clean themselves more than it was not disturbed. The weta's ability to heard this species use stridulation as a reposition itself in the same hiding place method of communication like the Activity adults which is a common trait in other species of weta also. Antennae and palps be it in a shelter or in the gorse, is Hemideina wetas, but with such a varied uncanny. Even the legs and tarsi are The nymphs of the Mahoenui weta are receive the greatest attention but legs and repertoire this must surely be so. placed in virtually the same position they more active than the adults. They still ovipositor in females are also cleaned. were previously. If disturbed in its usual move about in a deliberate manner but are hiding place the weta more willing to jump and will run from will abandon it. Mating The hide-out will be re-used again after a place to place on occasion. At night the Aggression adults often don't become active until long few days if it has previously been used The Mahoenui weta's breeding behaviour for a prolonged time however. is very interesting. When receptive, the after dark. Nymphs are earlier risers but It has been said that giant wetas do not Immediately after moulting this species female probably secretes pheromones in this is quite variable. The wetas moved bite. The Mahoenui weta defends itself always hid in the gorse for several days her droppings. Pheromones are obviously round the enclosure in a fairly ritualised differently from Hemideina wetas. It is even if it had previously used a shelter. pattern. After emerging from the not as assertive as the Hemideina wetas deposited on the climbing material, in the It only used a shelter again after its shelter, the wetas would locate food and but displays the same threat posture with cages also, as wetas can find their hiding cuticle had fully hardened. eat if hungry. If not they would simply the raised hind legs and rasping sounds. places with ease whether droppings are travel about the enclosure. The Mahoenui It should be remembered that the present or not. The sex pheromones are weta is a very capable traveller and will behaviour of Hemideina wetas is geared not produced all the time but when they Stridulation walk about for hours at a time if it is not towards social interaction with members are, the male attends the female, otherwise he is solitary and keeps to disturbed. of their own kind, and that the biting of enemies is only an extension of the Stridulation is extremely varied in the himself. Once the female is receptive and normal assertiveness towards each other. Mahoenui weta. When under threat the the male is aware of this he continues in weta will raise its hind legs. These are attendance for the duration of her Movement The Mahoenui weta will not bite when threatened under normal circumstances. brought down swiftly along the sides of condition. the abdomen. With this down-stroke a This weta is interesting to watch when in It will however bite when severely harsh grating call is made. This is quite Mating normally occurs in the early hours motion. When undisturbed it moves in a provoked e.g. when it is weighed and different from the sharp rasp produced by of the morning and can last for hours into slow deliberate manner and walks with its measured, and occasionally it will nibble Hemideina crassidens. One reason is that the following day. Mating appears to be body held in an elevated position. Each or even chew the skin on hands. This the ridges on the inside of the femora are spontaneous in this species. When the step is taken by first releasing the large trait it shares with other species of weta.

wetas were first introduced into their new come in contact he will be rebuffed by the accommodation, one pair mated only an female with a swift kick or push of her ARTICLE 7. Raising the Mahoenui hour after being introduced. However, hind leg. this may have been a reflex response to a giant weta in captivity stressful situation, ensuring that if all else Eggs and Egg Laying fails, the female has at least been fertilised. The eggs were laid throughout autumn. The female is very cautious on the floor The prolonged mating is quite different to of the enclosure. She will sit immobile The article is based on the captive rearing the relatively fleeting copulation of for long periods. Oviposition is similar of 40 Mahoenui wetas. Twenty five of Hemideina crassidens, but similar to that to that of other species of weta. Eggs are these were hatched by Mike Meads Housing and Habitat of the cave weta, Gymnoplectron laid at various depths, the shallowest (DSIR) and were kindly placed in my longipes. being 9 mm deep and the deepest 23 mm, care. The other 15 specimens were Because of their cannibalistic tendencies which is the average length of the nymphs of varying ages, collected in the newly hatched Mahoenui nymphs were Copulation was carried out in the gorse or ovipositor in this species. The eggs were wild at Mahoenui during 1989. separated into containers like those used on the ventilation material, either with the laid throughout the soil area particularly for Hemideina nymphs. Plastic female facing up and the male orientated in the moist patches under or near the The Mahoenui weta was fascinating to containers, 100 mm high and 100 mm horizontally to her, or with the female water dish. The eggs are cigar-shaped, raise as in many ways it is quite different wide were used. Each was furnished facing down. Copulating wetas were brown in colour and 6.5 to 7mm long. from the other wetas I have kept. I am with a sprig of gorse for the nymphs to extremely grateful to easily disturbed, and once disrupted would They are positioned vertically. The Mike Meads and climb in as well as a clump of not re-connect. female shows no interest in the eggs after Alison Ballance for help they have given. Hydrocoryle (wax weed) with soil laying them and, having spent some time Much more information and study are attached, for food. At the third instar the Yellowish-coloured spermatophores are ovipositing, makes her way unhurriedly essential before this weta can be properly nymphs were re-housed in 2-litre plastic managed. deposited on the female's abdomen, on or back into the gorse or to her shelter ice-cream containers using the same near her subgenital plate. These can be before day-break. To date the eggs have furnishings. seen a few hours after copulation but soon not hatched but I would raise the nymphs As the Mahoenui giant weta is the first disappear. I have not seen the female in the same way as those of Hemideina Deinacrida species I have raised, I have Newly-hatched Mahoenui weta nymphs turn and eat the spermatophores like the nymphs except that their accommodation made comparisons between this species measured 7.5 to 8 mm long and, once katydid, simplex, does, but then would be kept drier (see raising and the raising of Hemideina wetas. feeding started in earnest, filled out to 10 the spermatophores are not as large as Hemideina wetas, No. 5, page 30). mm in length. By the. 3rd instar they those of the katydid. were already 12 to 13 mm long so the Parasites larger containers were needed. Courtship behaviour has not been seen Several bright orange parasitic mites, From egg to fifth instar apart from observing that the male will larger than the mobile species found Environmental Conditions constantly touch the female with his commonly on Hemideina wetas, were The eggs of this weta are tan to dark antennae prior to copulation. The female present on specimens of this weta when brown in colour, 6 to 7 mm long and This weta is less tolerant of damp is normally quiet and, when receptive, first received. The mites were attached to cigar-shaped. They are laid in soil of conditions than Hemideina wetas but it did simply sits still. The male initiates the softer tissues of the wetas' exoskeleton varying textures particularly during or nevertheless prefer to hide under the copulation and will connect without any but they disappeared after a couple of after rain (heads, pers. comm.). The damp Hydrocoryle clump rather than in assistance from the female. Once the The mites were not mobile and months. eggs can be located a few millimetres the drier gorse sprigs. The containers female ceases to deposit pheromones, the were present on the thorax and abdomen below the soil surface or up to 21 to 23 were not misted as was done for male shows no more interest in her and of adults and nymphs, males and females mm down. The eggs in the Wellington Hemideina nymphs. Instead, as fresh appears quite oblivious to her presence. They appeared to have little effect alike. Zoo enclosures were laid in April but in Hydrocoryle was added, this was misted He will roam the enclosure instead of on the wetas, and were possibly larval Mike Meads' enclosure in the Hutt following her around and when he does beforehand and then placed in the erythraeid mites. Valley, in March. container. This method kept humidity to

the optimum i. e. 40 to 50%. A chickweed and plantain. Water was allowed to rest on the container floor or Food temperature between 10 and 25°C was provided by misting Hydrocotyle and the against the walls whilst they are The nymphs would become other foliage was misted before placing it preferred. hardening. This problem can be avoided Having reached the 5th instar, the torpid under 10°C, and above 25°C in the containers as well. This proved by providing a sturdy gorse sprig or stick Mahoenui nymphs were treated in the displayed distress by hiding deeper in the quite satisfactory. from which the weta can hang during same way as adults as regards food. or actively moving about. The Hydrocotyle ecdysis. only difference was that a greater quantity of insect food was offered to nymphs as at Behaviour The second problem is even more serious. this stage the Mahoenui giant weta eats In a confined space a newly ecdysed more animal protein than the adult. Food Newly hatched Mahoenui weta nymphs nymph or adult can impale itself on the are highly cannibalistic and will attack and gorse spines, which can cause serious Hydrocoryle was abandoned by the fifth The Mahoenui wetas in my care proved to begin feeding on any sibling nymph they bleeding. Infection quickly sets in. instar and such food items as karamu, be quite omnivorous. Like the nymphs come upon. They have the same Hebe, Euonymus and of Hemideina, they ate soon after hatching pressure to disperse as the nymphs of To ensure these problems did not arise, and would search for food if it was not other weta species and leave the ground the nymphs were placed in cages similar provided for them. Hydrocotyle in and climb into foliage or to the top of the to those set up for adult Mahoenui Giant dandelion were added to the plant items clumps was relished as was willow and enclosure immediately after hatching. wetas (page 40). As each nymph became already mentioned. Insect food was the young mahoe and ngaio leaves. Animal This behaviour ensures that they disperse ready to moult i.e. became very plump same except that larger items were fed protein was offered in the form of small as widely as possible in the wild, but in and ceased eating, it was placed in the i.e. katydids, locust nymphs, mealworms moths, flies, leaf hoppers and midges. captivity it is undesirable. larger enclosure. This was carried out (larvae and beetles), crickets and large Dog sausage and apple were offered in from the 7th instar onwards. With added moths (noctuids and porina). The insect moderation once or twice a week. space no problems occurred as long as the food was placed in prominent places so its nymph was able to prepare itself properly Sixth instar to adult consumption could be observed. The By the third instar the nymphs were going and hang securely in the gorse or foliage was placed in the jar lids and off the Hydrocotyle, preferring to feed on branches. The nymphs were kept in comprised sprigs of 8 to 15 leaves. The care of the nymphs from 6th instar separate enclosures during this process. the willow and insects etc., onwards differed in that accommodation and food were changed and the treatment The larger enclosures were furnished to was altered. accommodate adult Mahoenui wetas, with instead. Gorse was offered constantly Antennae but little was eaten. Even tender parts soil laid to 70 mm deep, large gorse like flowers were only occasionally eaten. sprigs and leaf litter laid on the floor. This suited the large nymphs well. The The antennae of early instar Mahoenui Up to the 5th instar the nymphs would Housing Habitat and wetas are interesting. They can be over feed each night but after this feeding enclosures were successfully kept at Environmental Conditions between 40 to 50% humidity by using three times the length of the body but are became more sporadic although more food extremely brittle. The antennae are used was consumed on each occasion. They dishes of water for standing the food After the 7th instar two problems may plants in. The nymphs were kept in constantly as are those of Hemideina fed every 48 to 72 hours although there nymphs, but the incidence of the nymphs were exceptions with individuals eating occur. As this species achieves these enclosures until mature, after which they getting them trapped and breaking them is each night from time to time. considerable length in its legs it needs were separated into pairs for room to stretch them after each ecdysis breeding. quite high. Hemideina nymphs retain Food items were changed every second to while they are still soft but without putting third day and any mouldy faeces were weight on them. This is important as the removed. Fresh droppings were retained legs simply bend under the wetas weight as the wetas were more settled when fresh and once the cuticle hardens the legs faecal material was present. Other food remain in this deformed shape. The items offered were Buddleia, taupata, antennae also suffer from distortion if

long antennae more readily than do This colour variation occurs from 1st to can be heard at 3rd instar but the ticking technique. The weta simply locates food Mahoenui nymphs. The fact that 6th instar. After this the nymph assumes sound is hard to hear until the weta and will move quickly to begin feeding. Hemideina nymphs live in tightly packed a more uniform colouration of dark reaches 5th or 6th instar. Mahoenui wetas, particularly when they The nymph, after 6th instar, is holes probably explains this, as they brown. are in their nymphal stages, are fond of would need more resilient antennae. distinctly different in colour shade to Mahoenui weta nymphs are not as active insects, and will eat surprisingly large adults however, being consistently duller. as those of Hemideina wetas. The amounts. The weta will sometimes use The Mahoenui nymphs are able to nymphs in their 1st instar scuttle about one or two legs to hold insect food but regenerate the antennae at each moult. If like tree weta nymphs but from second this behaviour is not nearly as developed an antenna is broken, even at the base, it There are two colour phases in Mahoenui instar onwards they are more relaxed and as it is in Hemideina wetas. regenerates up to 3/4 of its original length wetas and some individuals are coloured adopt the slow deliberate walk which is at the next moult. Perhaps this indicates in such a way as to appear intermediate characteristic of this species. When Insect consumption is most marked in the the importance of long antennae to the between the two. The more usual colour disturbed the nymphs will run but they 1st to 6th instar which is also the case species. is a dark mahogany brown. The other tend to freeze more readily than do with Hemideina wetas. In these early The palps of the Mahoenui nymphs are phase is a pale yellowish brown with dark Hemideina nymphs. This changes to instars Mahoenui wetas eat aphids and also of interest. The clubbed apical speckles and markings all over the body. some degree by 6th instar when the scale insects as well as tiny caterpillars segment of the maxillary palp is larger I observed no distinction amongst 1st to nymphs will quickly take to deeper cover and small moths. Individuals differ from than the same organ on Hemideina 5th instar nymphs as far as these colour or assume their defensive position. From each other as to their food preferences but nymphs from 1st to 5th instar. After this phases are concerned. Early instar 1st to 7th instar Mahoenui weta nymphs the Mahoenui giant weta is truly the palps are comparable. The larger nymphs have colours which are extremely jump freely and will repeatedly test with omnivorous. palps may compensate for the frequently variable. The lighter colour phase makes their antennae, a likely place to jump to broken, more 'brittle antennae, as itself apparent at the 6th or 7th instar before leaping. Jumping is not carried breakage of antennae does not occur as which is when the usual mahogany colour out as readily as it is with Hemideina Shelter readily once the nymphs reach their 6th is assumed. nymphs however. From the 7th instar instar. onwards jumping is not common but does Mahoenui weta nymphs are extremely The Mahoenui weta nymphs differ from occur. variable as to where they choose to hide. Hemideina nymphs in lacking an obvious In their separate containers they had a ecdysial line. This line is seen on the Mahoenui wetas clean their appendages variety of potential hiding places, e.g. Colouration head and the three thoracic terga of more often than do Hemideina wetas. As amongst gorse, under folded leaves, and Hemideina nymphs. It is sometimes nymphs they are very thorough and all so on, but the favourite place was under Mahoenui weta nymphs are beautifully apparent when a Mahoenui nymph is appendages receive attention. Once the the Hydrocotyle clumps. After the 4th marked in their early instars. The head within a few hours of ecdysis, but weta reaches 9th instar less cleaning takes instar, when Hydrocotyle was not is always very dark but the body varies otherwise there is little sign of it. place although palps and antennae are still provided, the most common place was from a yellowish brown to dark brown. regularly attended to. under folded leaves. The habit of The antennae are dark brown but have jamming themselves among the spines of light brown to yellowish patches Behaviour Unlike Hemideina nymphs the Mahoenui gorse was the least popular, and was most throughout their length. weta does not usually moult during the often adopted by newly ecdysed nymphs Aggression, Defence, Stridulation, winter when kept at ambient temperatures. or adults. The legs also have these patches of colour Movement, Grooming which highlight the spines on the hind Feeding As the nymphs reached their 7th to 10th tibia as well as the tips of the femur. By the 2nd instar the traditional defence instars, the 10th being the adult stage, The abdomen has dark stripes in a lighter posture of 'true' wetas (raised hind legs) Capturing and feeding on insects by places used for hiding were rolled up brown background but the background can be seen in this species. First instar Mahoenui wetas is of interest. Unlike eucalyptus bark, pine bark shelters and varies from yellowish brown to dark nymphs simply run or jump away or kick some of the Hemideina species this weta leaf litter on the floor. Again the gorse brown. back when disturbed without employing does not have a catching and holding was used only occasionally. In Mike the hind leg-raising display. Stridulation

Meads' enclosure the later instar nymphs Social Interaction ARTICLE 8. Keeping the ground weta, frequently used little shelter boxes he designed for them. Often there would be Up to the 9th instar Mahoenui wetas have Hemiandrus similis , more than one weta in each box! little to do with each other. This was not Ander, 1938 evident in the Wellington Zoo's breeding Mahoenui weta nymphs are quite programme because the nymphs were kept uncommitted and will utilise the range of separate due to the risk of cannibalism. choices available to them, but by the time One pair of nymphs were kept together they reach their 9th instar, the wetas start from the 7th instar onwards to adult in a The information in this article is based on The floor was furnished with a graded showing the hiding behaviour peculiar to large enclosure. These two nymphs had the study of 12 Hemiandrus similis, 6f, depth of soil from 200 mm tapering to 150 this species i.e. that of hiding in the same little to do with each other and would 6m, caught and kept in captivity at my mm towards one end of the enclosure. place day after day, to the point where move away from each other when contact home in Raumati. This weta offered Some leaf litter was added to the top of even their legs and tarsi are virtually was made. Cannibalism occurs chiefly more challenge than the others as its the soil and Coprosma twigs were always in the same position. This during the early instars but later instars behaviour and some of its captivity provided for the wetas to climb on. behaviour is remarkable and does not are vulnerable to attack when ecdysing. requirements are very different from those occur in Hemideina wetas. This species, As earlier stated, some nymphs in Mike of other wetas. It exploits a niche No special shelters were provided as this like others, deposits pheromones in faeces Meads' enclosure rested together during unoccupied by Hemideina and Deinacrida weta preferred to dig into the soil and the and on foliage and will follow these trails the day in their shelters but otherwise they wetas. behaviour of the females prevented the around the enclosure. It would appear led separate lives. This behaviour is use of artificial burrows such as those that this technique is not used until at least similar to that of Hemideina nymphs but Hemiandrus similis is a small weta that provided for Hemideina. I have found the 9th instar as prior to this stage the the Hemideina nymphs interact with each can attain a length of 30 mm, see Fig. 7, this species as deep as 60 cm underground nymphs are inconsistent as to where they other more directly, evicting each other p.53. This species lives in burrows in the in the field. The burrows of the wetas in hide and where they travel about their from their holes and shelters. This gives ground, and juveniles may occupy holes captivity varied from 55 mm deep to 180 enclosure. them a closer physical contact. of Porina moth or tiger beetles although mm deep in the soil of the enclosure. both juveniles and adults are quite capable of excavating their own burrows. It is nocturnal but can be found out during the day in rainy weather (usually flooded out Environmental Conditions of its burrow) or at dusk. Although this species is omnivorous, a large part of its I kept this weta at temperatures between diet consists of living and dead insects. 10°C and 25°C. The species dug deeper The female is slightly larger and she is with the higher temperatures; colder plumper than the male. temperatures simply slowed it down. This weta did not become quiescent at any time during my rearing programme. Hemiandrus similis has a wide humidity Housing and Habitat tolerance. It could survive well at 40 % to 50% but was inclined to abandon its For this species I used a 90 cm by 43 cm burrow when the levels above 85% by 43 cm glass tank. This was fitted with and would then hide under the leaf litter. a lid that was half plastic and half insect I found 60 % to 80 % was quite acceptable. mesh. I chose a large enclosure as this This humidity level was easily maintained Weta is strongly territorial in spite of its by misting with my usual spraying small size. Fig. 7 Ground weta Activity Hemiandrus similis Ander, 1938 routine, every 2 days in dry weather and every 5 days in damp, humid weather. Although this species hides in the ground The soil and leaf litter were sprayed and activity centres around the burrows it directly. is quite at home in trees. The specimens in captivity constantly climbed about the branches at night, moving slowly except when disturbed, capturing prey, or Food hastening to some other location. They were surprisingly dextrous climbers and Feeding this species presented some could reach the thinnest twigs without difficulties initially. As I was unaware of difficulty. its full dietary requirements some experimentation was required. Some individuals ate a small amount of foliage Movement while others never did. Some fruit was popular e.g. apples, grapes, cherries and Hemiandrus similis is a powerful jumper. kiwi fruit. The foliage eaten was plantain It can leap a metre with ease. It usually and chickweed. jumps when disturbed or provoked but will also jump up to or over to a branch This weta was particularly fond of animal etc. The antennae are relatively short protein. It readily ate dead moths, being similar in length to those of nymphs of crickets, locusts, katydids, Hemideina maori in relation to its body as aphids, mealworm larvae and grass grubs, is the case with ground-dwelling wetas. as well as oxheart and dog sausage. The palps, antennae and front legs receive the greatest amount of attention when H. Feeding was sporadic and the weta often similis cleans itself. ate once every three days.

Water was administered by providing a Burrowing misted piece of foliage. The wetas accepted this readily. Cotton wool wads The burrows were dug by the wetas were unsatisfactory as they tended to themselves but in the field this species attract the wetas to one area which caused commandeers exit holes of burrowing skirmishes. insects as well. Some Hemiandrus species even construct lids to their burrows. Watching H. similis construct a burrow is fascinating. The hole is started Behaviour with the head and front legs. The head is moved in a nodding motion. The mandibles are partly opened and a lump Hemiandrus similis proved to be a of soil is shifted under the wetas' thorax fascinating weta to study. Its behaviour is with each nod. At the same time the quite complex and there is still much to front legs are splayed outwards which be learnt from observation. pushes soil sideways. As the weta

trees and shrubs where aphids occur. The progresses, each new load of soil pushes shows no preference for a particular weta will dig under leaf litter in search of are laid in the egg chamber, not in the the previous load further under and along female. the body. Soil is eventually kicked away grubs. The feeding behaviour is similar ground as with other wetas. They are from beyond the end of the abdomen by to that described on page 28. clumped together and guarded by the female who continues to live in the the hind legs. Eggs and Egg Laying burrow. Occasionally individual eggs are The weta turns round in the new hole to Defence found partly embedded in the walls of the Eggs are laid during the following egg-chamber and burrow. These may remove soil from all sides. If roots are in summer in a chamber to one side of the Each weta had its own burrow which was have become accidentally detached from the way and are manageable they are cut burrow. The female of this species has a by the mandibles. If not they are dug fiercely defended. Defence was most the egg clump and embedded in the walls very short blunt ovipositor which is only by the normal activity of the mother. The around and the burrow continued. evident after the first hour of darkness just visible from above. The eggs are fat Stones, bits of wood or other debris are and a couple of hours before day-break. young apparently hatch more or less and almost cylindrical, smooth, glistening, removed by the wetas as they are met The owner of a burrow would sit at the simultaneously and, at least initially, pale cream-coloured and thin-walled, and remain crowded together and guarded by with. The weta can remove a stone entrance with its head facing out. Males the female*. similar to its own size by taking it in the were more territorial than females. A mandibles and either pushing it under the small territory (maximum radius 50 mm) body like a load of soil or by pulling it around the burrow was guarded as well. out of the burrow backwards. The stone is then discarded near the entrance of the If a weta intruded into a burrow, the burrow. owner would not hesitate to fight. The two wetas would raise their front legs and Fig. 8 illustrates the plentiful spines of the expose their mandibles. They would then tibiae of this weta. When observing the rush at each other snapping their construction of a burrow by H. similis one mandibles shut on anything they could get can see that the spines are strategically hold of. The fights were very brief, placed and quite efficient for soil typically with the loser, usually the movement. The weta displays surprising intruder, running or jumping away. power considering its size whilst Injury to legs or antennae was possible excavating. The tarsi are folded up but fortunately only occasional. No towards the tibiae to avoid damage but stridulation was apparent. otherwise they are very supple and dextrous.

Mating Feeding The female, when receptive, would allow When searching for food, the habits of the male into her burrow. Mating occurs this weta are quite different from those of inside the burrow as well as outside. The its Hemideina cousins. It is considerably male normally backs underneath the more thorough in its searching. It will female for copulation but occasionally it is hunt, literally searching over and under achieved virtually side by side with * This is the only known case of parental care amongst the wetas, and indeed amongst the leaf litter, poking into nooks and crannies the wetas facing the same way. The (sensu stricto). It sometimes occurs amongst the cockroaches and earwigs and around branches and foliage and beneath female can mate with several males over the summer-autumn period and each male there is one case of a mantid looking after its egg case and newly emerged young (see bark, and easily reaching the stems of Chopard 1938 "La biologie des Orthopteres", and Hinton 1981 "Biology of Insect Eggs" Volume 1) - G.W. Ramsay Fig. 8 Cave weta Gymnoplectron longipes (Colenso, 1887) ARTICLE 9. Keeping the cave weta, Gymnoplectron longipes (Colenso, 1887)

This account is based on the maintenance species will occupy abandoned holes of of a group of Gymnoplectron longipes Hemideina crassidens . Gymnoplectron from the Orongorongo Valley. The wetas longipes is found in small groups were kept for 11 months and successfully crammed into the holes, but will hide laid eggs in captivity. The methods used singly as well. Nymphs and adults will proved to be quite capable of maintaining share shelter and they usually face this species for an indefinite period. This inwards. was the second species I attempted to rear under the Wellington Zoo weta breeding After 11 months in captivity, in late programme. summer, all four wetas died within a few weeks of each other. The males were Gymnoplectron longipes , as can be seen first to perish. As all four were of from Fig. 8, is an impressive insect. The unknown age the longevity for this species females can attain a body length of 65 is unknown. mm which includes their long ovipositor and males average 35 mm long. It is the antennae and legs which increase this Environmental Conditions Climbing weta's length to 190 mm or more. It is material in the form of Housing and Habitat Coprosma tan brown in colour with a velvety twigs was added as these wetas I kept this species at the same temperature preferred to spend most of their time off appearance on the body, particularly the as H. crassidens. This was an optimum I used a glass tank, measuring 60 cm x 30 the floor. A hollow branch 400 mm long abdomen. The female has a pronounced of 10° to 25°C. G. longipes was quite cm x 30 cm. Being quite large wetas I and 70 mm wide was used for shelter and sword- like ovipositor. content at this temperature would suggest this should be a minimum. all the wetas crammed themselves in range. Humidity differed in that it was tolerated The enclosure had a metal lid with one without hesitation. The wetas were The species lives in rotten logs and at slightly higher levels by this cave wetaf. third of its area taken up by steel insect reliably out and about each night so a branches. These are usually on the A level of 65 % to 85 % was found to be mesh. These wetas do not chew materials special shelter with inspection window, ground but can be in an elevated position satisfactory. like tree wetas so plastic or wood would such as that used for This higher preference is or protruding from a bank for instance. Hemideina be satisfactory for lids. crassidens' substantiated by the fact that G. longipes The wetas live in large holes which have harem gallery (see pages 12 is found in damp or rotten logs whereas and 13, Fig. 2) was not required. rotted out or have been excavated by G. H. crassidens Soft friable soil mounded to 60 mm deep longipes is often found in drier other insects. This species will occupy proved to resent disturbance conditions. was added to the floor and loose leaf litter intensely. abandoned holes of Hemideina crassidens. was sprinkled on top of this. Gymnoplectron longipes is found in small groups crammed into the holes, but will hide singly as well. Nymphs and adults will share shelter and they usually face inwards.

Mating of the day. Spermatophores were not seen on the female. Food Mostly copulation Mating commenced in the early hours of took place with the wetas upside down auditory organs present but this the morning. It would often continue in clinging to the mesh of These cave wetas proved to be almost species will freeze in response to sound. broad daylight at least until 10.00 or the lid. entirely carnivorous. They ate a small 10.30 am the next day. The male amount of apple and tiny portions of initiated copulation and after locating the moss. They readily ate dead or injured Activity female, moved backwards underneath her. Eggs and Egg Laying insects and were particularly fond of Whilst in this position the male would tinned cat food. They ate varying The usual pattern of behaviour each night then lift his abdomen so his cerci The females laid eggs sporadically each amounts but never a large amount at one was for the wetas to leave the shelter, contacted the venter of the female's night during the summer. The eggs are sitting. They would normally locate the usually only an hour after dark, locate abdomen. He would accomplish this with greyish brown, cigar shaped 3.5 to 4mm food, feed briefly and then move on. food and feed and move around the a series of quick flicks of the abdomen. long and laid singly in the soil. As with enclosure. They were very curious and After a while the male would then all other activities, the female would be A feeding weta would be easily disturbed would explore every aspect of their connect. Throughout this period the easily disturbed during oviposition. I had by another weta or any vibration. An enclosure. They feed perhaps three to female, if receptive, remained passive and to be very amount of food comprising, two field four times and then finally make their stationary. Connection would then last quiet and not move in order to crickets (Teleogryllus commodus) or the way to the lid of the enclosure. Here well into the morning of the next day, but successfully observe the females while equivalent sized piece of cat food would they would climb onto the lid and remain the pair were easily disturbed in which they were out laying eggs. The ovipositor normally be consumed in a night by four with their legs spread out. There was case the connection was broken. was sunk into the ground up to its base adult G. longipes. very little interaction between the Otherwise the male would simply release and withdrawn after mild contraction of individuals and each would space itself the female and move out from under her. the abdomen. Gravid females became Water was provided by using soaked away from the others on the lid. The Both wetas would then make their way quite plump and were considerably larger cotton wool wads or by spraying the wetas stayed in contact with each other by unhurriedly to the shelter for the rest than the males. enclosure. The wetas would ingest the touching with their long antennae. water droplets.. Both methods were acceptable to the wetas. Grooming

This species is like other cave wetas in Behaviour that it is fastidious about cleaning itself. The palps and antennae receive most These wetas behaved surprisingly like the attention, and all the legs are cleaned. Deinacrida species. They moved about in The female regularly cleans her ovipositor a careful, deliberate manner and were - most cleaning was carried out whilst the easily disturbed. Once disturbed, for wetas were upside down on the lid. example, by a vibration,. they would They remained thus for prolonged freeze for considerable lengths of time. periods. There are no obvious

The nine separate articles in this booklet Each article is packed with information detail the keeping in captivity of several about the space, shelter, temperature, kinds of weta and the techniques of humidity, and food requirements of these breeding them - the Wellington weta wetas, both nymphs and adults, as well as (Hemideina crassidens), the Stephens many observations and notes about their Island hemideina (H. crassicruris), the behaviour and biology. Auckland weta (H. thoracica), the ground hemideina (H. maori), the Mahoenui giant "Project Weta" is ongoing and as more weta (Deinacrida sp .), the ground weta information and data about additional (Hemiandrus similis), and the cave weta species is gathered, supplementary articles (Gymnoplectron longipes). These articles and up-dates will be produced. are an outcome of Project Weta at the Wellington Zoo.

PAUL BARRETT lives at Raurnati near At the Zoo Paul works with a wide range Wellington and has a deep and long- of animal species as well as with insects standing interest in the keeping of captive and spiders. He has responsibility for . He has a particular interest in the aquaria and for some reptiles insects and his enthusiasm for wetas including the tuatara and geckos. In began when he was a small child. He addition, he looks after the Zoo's Hospital was educated in Wellington and, on and Quarantine Unit, and is involved with leaving Wellington High School, joined the development of a new reptile, fish, the staff of the Wellington City Council as and insect facility. All this and "Project a gardening labourer at the Botanical Weta" take up most of his time. With Gardens before transferring to the what is left he enjoys tramping, drawing, Wellington Zoo, where he has been and - and insect-watching. He even employed for nine years. During this keeps some (including racing time he has completed an animal science pigeons and a harrier hawk) - and wetas - technicians' course in animal management at home! and a London City and Guilds course in Zoo management.