35 



1. Deinacrida heteracantha, White. (" Weta-punga " of the natives.) 



This fine species has a very limited geographical range. I have never 

 heard of its occurrence south of the Waikato District, in the North Island. 

 Formerly it was abundant in the forests north of Atickland ; but of late years 

 it has become extremely rare. The natives attribute its extermination to the 

 introduced Norway rat, which now infests every part of the country and 

 devours almost everything that comes in its way. One of these insects, in the 

 collection of the late Dr. Sinclair, measured, with its hind legs and antennse 

 stretched out, fourteen inches ; its head and body, exclusive of appendages, 

 being two inches and a half. A specimen which I obtained in a pine forest, 

 near the Kaipara Hiver, more than thirteen years ago, and which is now 

 deposited in the Auckland Museum, is even larger. The sexes differ con- 

 siderably in size. 



The Weta-punga appears to subsist chiefly on the green leaves of trees and 

 shrubs. It climbs Math agility, and is sometimes found on the topmost branches 

 of the kahikatea and other lofty trees, but more generally on the low under- 

 wood of the forest. When disturbed it produces a clicking noise, accompanied 

 by a slow altei'nate movement of its powerful hind legs. When taken it kicks 

 or strikes backwards with these limbs, which are armed with double rows 

 of sharp spurs ; and, unless dexterously seized, will not fail to punish 

 the offender's hand, the prick of its spurs causing an unpleasant stinging 

 sensation. My brother-in-law, Major Mair, obtained some exceedingly fine 

 examples of this insect in the Whangarei District. He foiand the killing 

 of them, so as not to injure the specimens, a matter of some difficulty; 

 and in one instance attempted to drown the insect in cold water, but found it 

 after four days' immersion as lively and active as ever. In another case, a 

 large Weta-punga which he had immersed in water almost boiling, and then 

 laid aside in his insect-box as killed, revived in. the course of a few hours, and 

 appeared to be qiiite unharmed ! A pair which I captured in a low belt of 

 wood near the Wairoa, and secured in a pocket handkerchief, had eaten their 

 way out and escaped before my return to the spot where I had left them 

 carefully suspended. 



2. Deinacrida tlioracica, Gray. " Weta" of the natives.) 



This sjDCcies is very common in the North Island. It infests decayed wood, 

 and particularly the dry stems of the tutu [Coriaria ruscifolia) and the branches 

 of Griselina lucida, into which it bores. During the night it may be heard 

 emitting a peculiar snapping sound, especially when disturbed by the blaze of 

 a camp fire in the woods. 



The male may be i*eadily distinguished from the female by its large head 

 and long powerful jaws. The ovipositor (in the female) is about half an inch 



