We have had two reports on the exceptionally large size of wētā seen in our gully of late. This will most likely
be because they are growing larger (and living longer) without the rat
predation that has been around previously. To be fair on rats (if you want to
be fair on rats) they are not the only predator on wētā. Cats (yes, your moggy),
hedgehogs and possums also give them a hard time.
Wētā have been around long enough to see dinosaurs come and
go and to evolve into more than 100 different species, all of them endemic to
New Zealand. They have become icons for invertebrate conservation in New
Zealand because many species are threatened or endangered although not the tree
species in our gully. This does not mean
we shouldn’t look after the environment that supports them though.
Wētā hotel / motel are popular and a lot of fun to have in
trees in the gully behind your property if you are lucky enough to live on a
gully edge. You can make your own (search on google) or you can buy one from Go
Eco located in Frankton, Hamilton for around $30.
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