Ecological observations of Cook Strait giant wētā, Deinacrida rugosa (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae), on Matiu/Somes Island

Abstract

Cook Strait giant wētā, Deinacrida rugosa Buller (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae), is a large insect that became restricted to Mana Island, Stephens Island, and the Trio Islands in Cook Strait following the arrival of rodent predators with European settlers. The original pre-European distribution of this wētā is unknown, although specimens were collected from Whanganui in 1871 and Kapiti Island before 1937.