Wētā

New Zealand · giant insects · crickets

Super heavy insects. Some wētā are among the heaviest insects in the world. These chunky crickets can weigh more than many other insects you've ever seen.

Night time hunters. Most wētā are nocturnal, which means they come out to hunt and eat at night. The smaller ones hunt other creatures and eat leftover food, while the bigger ones munch on plants.

No flying ability. Unlike regular crickets, wētā cannot fly even though they have wings. These flightless insects are found only in New Zealand, where they've lived for millions of years.

Facing danger now. Introduced mammals like rats and possums hunt wētā much more than native birds do. Some wētā species are now critically endangered because of these new predators.

Island-only creatures. All 100 species of wētā live only in New Zealand and nowhere else on Earth. They're endemic, meaning they evolved there and can't be found wild anywhere else.