Anostostomatidae is a family of insects in the order Orthoptera, widely distributed in the southern hemisphere. It is named Mimnermidae or Henicidae in some taxonomies, and common names include king crickets in South Africa and wētā in New Zealand. Prominent members include the Parktown prawn of South Africa, and the giant wētā of New Zealand. The distribution of this family reflects a common ancestry before the fragmenting of Gondwana.
The orthopteran family Rhaphidophoridae of the suborder Ensifera has a worldwide distribution. Common names for these insects include the cave wētā, cave crickets, camelback crickets, camel crickets, spider crickets and sand treaders. Those occurring in New Zealand, Australia, and Tasmania are typically referred to as jumping or cave wētā. Most are found in forest environments or within caves, animal burrows, cellars, under stones, or in wood or similar environments. All species are flightless and nocturnal, usually with long antennae and legs. More than 1100 species of Rhaphidophoridae are described.
Dendroplectron aucklandensis the Auckland Island wētā, is a cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, the only member of the genus Dendroplectron. It is endemic to the subantartic Auckland Islands of New Zealand.
Isoplectron is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand.
Gymnoplectron is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand.
Insulanoplectron is a monotypic genus of wētā that contains the species Insulanoplectron spinosum. I spinosum or the Snares Island wētā, is a cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to the Snares and Antipodes islands of New Zealand.
Ischyroplectron is a monotypic genus of wētā containing the species Ischyroplectron isolatum. I isolatum or the Bounty Island wētā, is a cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to Bounty Island of New Zealand. It is found under rocks.
Neonetus is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. All described species are small; when adult, individuals are only about 1cm long. Neonetus variegatus and N. huttoni are common in native and exotic forests but because they are small and nocturnal they are often overlooked.
Pallidoplectron is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand.
Petrotettix is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand.
Pharmacus is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand.
Pleioplectron is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. These wētā are fairly common at night among the leaf litter in native forest in the South Island of New Zealand. The species look very similar to species of Miotopus, another New Zealand endemic genus, recently resurrected.
Setascutum is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand.
Turbottoplectron is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand.
Pachyrhamma waitomoensis, known as the Waitomo cave weta, is a large species of cave weta, native to the Waitomo district of New Zealand.
Pachyrhamma acanthoceras, also known as the Auckland cave wētā, is a large species of cave wētā endemic to New Zealand.
Pharmacus montanus, the Mount Cook flea, is a type of cave wētā found above the tree line in the South Island of New Zealand. It was first described by Francois Jules Pictet de la Rive and Henri Saussure in 1893.
Pachyrhamma edwardsii is a species of wētā, in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. This species is found in caves, or large cavities where there is high humidity and little plant or animal life.
Wētā is the common name for a group of about 70 insect species in the families Anostostomatidae and Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. They are giant flightless crickets, and some are among the heaviest insects in the world. Generally nocturnal, most small species are carnivores and scavengers while the larger species are herbivorous. Wētā are preyed on by introduced mammals, and some species are now critically endangered.
Talitropsis sedilloti is a species of flightless wētā, in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand. This species is common in forests throughout New Zealand and during the day can be found hiding in holes in tree branches.
