Weta information report term 3

This is a piece of writing that we did for our minibeast topic when we were learning about weta. We had to write an imformation report on this insect.

Click here to see our success criteria. 
Amazing weta of Aotearoa


What are weta

Weta are native to NewZealand. There are five types of weta Giant weta, Tusked weta, Ground weta, Cave weta and Tree weta. Giant weta is the biggest weta. Some people they think that weta are ugly. There is a maori legend about a weta called punga that means spirit of ugliness. Weta have an exoskeleton. An exoskeleton is an outer shell that protects the body. Weta also have ears on their front legs just below the knee joint.

Where do they live?
Weta live in many different places. 
Weta live in trees and dig holes in the ground and they may live in your firebox! Ground weta and tusked ( tusked weta are rare to find ) weta live in burrows. Giant weta live in trees on the ground under rocks or plants. Tree weta live in holes in trees these are called gallery. Cave weta live in  sea coast caves also live in hollow tree trunks, under houses, tunnels and under stones. 

How do they eat ?
All weta eat something. Giant weta and tree weta are herbivores and eat lichen, seeds, fruit and flowers. Tusked weta and ground weta are carnivores they eat tiny invertebrates, slugs, worms and snails. Some weta are even omnivores. For example cave weta are omnivores they eat fungi, leaves, plants other insects and animal remains. ( Herbivores- just eat plants carnivores-eat only meat omnivores-eat both meat and plants )


How do they reproduceIn
 late koanga spring and raumati summer they mate. In ngahuru autumn the females lay there eggs up to 6 to 10 at a time. In there whole life time females may lay up to 300 eggs. The following spring  the babies hatch and grow.The babies have to shed there skin 9 times until the are adult weta . The male tree weta has to fight of other male weta with his jaws and spiked legs. The females breed in alpine environments, urban gardens, grass lands and shrub lands. 

Social behavior
Weta rub their legs together to make a chirping sound so they can communicate with other weta. Tree weta live in groups they are called galleries. Other weta live by themselves. 

Threats
People from Europe brought cats, rats, hedgehogs, stoats and ferrets. Other threats of the weta are tuataras, birds and even humans. Humans are threats because they destroy their habitats. Poison and spray also kills weta. We need to look after there habitats so they don’t die.