Weta

Lots of people really don’t like creepy, crawly things but they can be pretty groovy. Look at them up close and you'll discover where movie directors get some of their ideas for weird creatures!

Weta are large by insect standards. Some of the giant weta are enormous and are amongst the heaviest insects in the world. The weta is only found in New Zealand and is so old it has outlived the dinosaurs.

The weta is sometimes called the dinosaur of the insect world. The weta is more primitive than the tuatara. The weta has changed very little in the past 100 million years. Weta have their ears on their front knees and can feel the vibrations of noises around them.

You can tell a male and female weta apart because females have a long ovipositor, which looks a bit like a stinger, which they use to lay eggs. Guess what? Weta is one of the heaviest insects in our planet!

Ugly Animals - Weta