Mountain rock weta: a fantastic beetle from New Zealand (7 photos)

In fact, you have to work hard to see the mountain rock weta. First, we are going to Yuzhny Island: our animal is endemic to these very places. Then we roll up our sleeves and climb to a height of more than 1100 m above sea level. Did you climb in? And now let's look at both.







There is no time to explain, we urgently need to take this ring to Mordor!

It's easy to miss our Mediterranean beauty. Although by the standards of insects it is far from small - up to 6 cm. The size of a little finger! But to find the weta, you need to dig around under the stones. When you find something striped like a wasp, and with an impressive asymmetrical jaw, similar to the hatch of a garbage chute, wait and scream back down to the safety of the valley. You have found a creature whose abilities would be the envy of the heroes of many fantasy books.



Hello, we heard that you are going on a mountain hike? Will you take us with you?

What happens to many insects when it gets cold? I wouldn’t like to talk about sad things, but you can’t argue against the truth: kirdyk is happening to them. And not only with insects, for that matter. But the mountain stone weta will be scared by the brisk frost. When the temperature in her favorite mountains drops to −10 °C, the bug shows what she is capable of.



Mountain wetas have two morphs: yellow and black. They differ from each other in color and ability to accumulate moisture. Individuals with dark coats retain fluid in the body much better than their yellow relatives. This allows you to better survive in changeable weather conditions.

Veta literally becomes ice - 85% of the water in her body freezes. The remaining liquids contain amino acids and sugars. They are the ones who protect the insect’s organs from the destructive effects of cold weather. An animal can spend several weeks in total freezing. But vets remain quietly in a state of suspended animation for about 5 months every year.



Warm for weaklings, frost of -30 for real boys!

And when the veta wakes up, a brutal appetite also wakes up. The insect's diet is varied: under such conditions it is better not to be picky. Herbs, mosses, and invertebrates are also eaten. Moreover, both those who have already died and those who are still alive.



Would you like to treat a mountain traveler to a cigarette?

In addition to the vagaries of nature, there are plenty of dangers. Not a single predator living on bare rocks will refuse 6 centimeters of pure protein. To defend itself, the veta spreads her paws, falls on her back, opens her already rather large mouth wide and with all her appearance shows that there is no need to work - she has long since died. If the attacker is not embarrassed by this, and he still intends to satisfy his hunger, then a much more unpleasant surprise awaits him. The weta's mouth is prudently open, and she regurgitates a substance directly into the opponent's face, after which the predator's appetite suddenly disappears.



Are you sure you want to get involved with this at all?

There are plenty of enemies not only among predators, but also among relatives. Especially during the breeding season. One male gathers several females around himself, after which he protects the harem from the encroachments of competitors. As soon as a hot muchacho with a persistent desire to continue his lineage appears on the horizon, the guys dig into each other with claw-like jaws.



Pain that is transmitted even through the screen.

But the young branch still needs to live to reproduce. Before the beech can leave offspring, 4 years must pass! During this time, some insects manage to produce several generations. And the brutal New Zealand cockroach is just entering the time of love games. If the insect is not eaten, it will reproduce for another 4 years. Total - 8 years of life! These are truly fabulous survival abilities!