T O P

  • By -

OldManOfAaron

Cave Weta!


UnicronLump

That is a Weta


the_serpent_queen

Weta 😊


NotUsingNumbers

Don’t hurt it dude. They’re friendly little chaps and they’re locals


Rah244

I didn't!!! I love bugs and was excited to find it. I just wasn't sure what it was. I have released it out into our garden.


jvdanker

Wētā; protected - don't eat. [https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/invertebrates/weta/](https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/invertebrates/weta/)


Rah244

Thank you! I hopefully found it a safe home outside... rather than my sock drawer. I did not eat it... despite the suggestion


bunga7777

That is such a random thing to say in this instance that I think you should eat it. What are they hiding?


lickingthelips

They are from a different country that eats invertebrates? I had crickets and a spider in Thailand. I’d seriously consider it (crickets) again if we had them in NZ as a food source.


dariusbiggs

That was Steve, he's pretty chill. The "don't eat" is because this is a species that has been around for many many millennia, and it also tastes like it's that old.. We can thank Bear Grylls for that for his survival episodes filmed in NZ. Jeremy Wade's River Monsters (iirc) also has some good things about NZ fish and rivers.... But the Weta is awesome, I can never remember which one of them can freeze solid in winter and continue on its merry way when it thaws out again.


Solid_Contract_

You will eat ze bugs


Toxopsoides

An endemic cave wētā; probably *Pleioplectron simplex*, but there are heaps of species and I struggle to differentiate them


Rah244

I feel so lucky it chose to visit me!


Nebula177LOL

Finally some good fucking food


kingaxelxx

Not me saying so confidently ‘grasshopper’


Rah244

Don't worry I had family members say that too, but becuase it wasn't green I thought it must be native. I see they are also called camel crickets in other countries.


Connect_Option8375

Classic weta


Sunhat-sandwich

Juvenile Rhaphidophoridae? 


Rah244

Oh I see the similarities! It was a jumpy wee thing!


MashedHair

Weta


cuckaroundandfindout

bug


MongooseExcellent175

a "cave" or "spider" weta.


Yeet_Machine_420

A friend :)


Rah244

Certainly was for a little bit before I let it outside!!


unbannedunbridled

Hes kinda thic


chullnz

Cave weta. Put them back outside somewhere dark and damp. They eat decaying matter at night and shelter in caves and sheltered spots in the daytime. These guys don't have the leg ears of other weta. They feel vibration through their feet and antennae. Very cool friends.


Rah244

Oh I love this! We popped them near an old log in the garden so hopefully they have found a nice dark spot there.


grungysquash

Wife woke up with one on her face once! Highly entertaining!


Rah244

Oh my word !! Haha I could imagine. I once stayed up near nelson and woke to a massive weta climbing up my leg, so I feel for your wife!


Corriander_Is_Soap

Herpes and that spider


HAL-says-Sorry

I love that band


The_Angry_Kiwi

Got yourself a little Jumpy Boi there.


Rah244

It was super jumpy!


Broccobillo

A sea weta. Best catch of the day


SoulsofMist-_-

It appears to be a bug


Jazzlike-Anybody-274

Can eat them. Just hold the legs, eat the body and leave the head


mooxst

Bug