The tree weta, a beautifully engineered insect
……..wetas are beautifully engineered.
They have used the last 100 million years without the usual modern predators to evolve into large flightless insects occupying a number of niches. This process is called adaptive radiation and a common ancestor has evolved to occupy different ecological niches
There are around 100 species of weta divided into 5 groups
- giant weta
- tree weta
- ground weta
- tusked weta
- cave weta
The unfortunate weta I took photos of is a female tree weta
Auckland tree weta from john west on Vimeo.