Tommie2

By Tommie2

New Zealand Weta

http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/invertebrates/weta/
These insects are native to New Zealand.  There are various types, cave weta, giant weta and I think this is a tree weta. They are nocturnal so we don't usually see them in our back yards but this one wasn't well which is why it was lying on the lawn in the middle of the day.  They are about the size of a small mouse and not many people like to get up close to them, probably because of their size and the barbs on their back legs and the long sting like barb sticking out the back which isn't a sting but used to make holes to lay their eggs in a tree or the ground. This one had lost part of one of its feelers. They are quite prehistoric looking but have very pretty markings. 

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