RobClubley

...it has a little passenger!

Only in New Zealand!








It's a Weta. Native to New Zealand and harmless. They feed on rotting vegetation. The spike at the back is an ovipositor as this is a female.

SDDep

Think its a cousin of this little bugger...

The US Potato Bug...disgusting

JohnThePom

Erm, how did you, erm, "get rid" of it?

WP

RobClubley

I took her outside and gently pushed her onto a tree branch.
She promptly leapt off towards my hand, missed and landed on a plant leaf
They're not fast moving creatures but they sure can jump!!

Fooferfish

Its a good job you dodn't wipe your bum with it it would have been like using that toilet paper that resembled tracing paper ( IZOL ) that medicated stuff, like sandpaper lol

RobClubley

Toon_Nut

I used to be able to get a canny tune outta that stuff wrapped around a comb when I was a kid.

Ah, there's something I've never seen or heard of in a long long time, a comb!

shirl

Not seen a weta yet! Been here nearly 4 years Thank god it wasn't on my loo roll, hate creepy crawlies, have to get the house spider proofed every year! I would have bashed it I am sorry to say - ok don't get on me back for cruelty to insects it's a woman thing! Well it is with me anyway! I scream when I am on my own and no one around to hear me if I see a big spider

RobClubley

They're protected - the DOC police would have been around

shirl

Well they would have had to know I had one in the house first lol!!! The screams might have given it away! Are they peculiar to the North Island or do we have them down south or is it too cold down here for them!

RobClubley

That one is a Wellington Weta. I think you get varieties of them all over but the bigger ones are most likely further North.

I'd love to meet one of the really big ones. They're been wiped out on the mainland though. The Wellington Weta is bottom right on the pic.

shirl

I shall be keeping an eye open for them on me travels then I will avoid at all costs in case one jumps on me and I start screaming like a wailing banshee!

Jan n Neil

I,m just wondering what you where doing in the bog with a camera

RobClubley

The wife went in, spotted the interloper and after she came out she suggested I go have a look.

All innocent

Bo-Jangles

Nooooo way, they are far too big and crunchy to bash! Yeugh! Running away and screaming like a girl is the best option.