Wetas & King Crickets

Anostostomatidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Infraorder: Tettigoniidea
Family: Anostostomatidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Anostostomatidae: /ænɒstoʊstɒmətɪdiː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Summary

Anostostomatidae is a family of orthopteran insects known for their diversity and distribution predominantly in the Southern Hemisphere. Members include the familiar wētā of New Zealand and king crickets of Australia and South Africa, with many being nocturnal and exhibiting unique behaviors and adaptations for survival.

Physical Characteristics

Members of Anostostomatidae can vary in size, with the Parktown prawn exceeding 6 cm and the giant wētā exceeding 8 cm in length. Some species may have fully developed wings, while others do not. Males of certain species exhibit highly modified heads used in male-male conflicts. General appearance resembles Camel Crickets, Jerusalem Crickets, or Shield-back Katydids, but are less 'hump-bodied'.

Identification Tips

Anostostomatidae can be identified by their general body structure resembling that of Camel Crickets, with some species having fully developed wings. Males may exhibit enlarged heads and modified limbs for burrowing.

Habitat

Primarily found in terrestrial environments, often in burrows or hiding under leaf litter during the day. Many species are nocturnal and become active shortly after sunset.

Distribution

This family is primarily distributed in the Southern Hemisphere, with numerous genera and species found in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and South America, and relatively few representatives in Asia and North America.

Diet

Diet varies among species; many New Zealand wētā are herbivorous, feeding on leaves, fruit, and flowers but may also scavenge. King crickets in Australia are general scavengers, some specialized feeders, and predators of invertebrates.

Life Cycle

The life cycle consists of three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Eggs can take up to 18 months to develop, nymphs may take 1-3 years to mature through 7-10 instars, with adults living for a year or more.

Reproduction

Females may brood eggs and young nymphs in isolated chambers. Details on specific mating behaviors vary by species.

Predators

Anostostomatidae are preyed upon by a variety of terrestrial predators. In some instances, they have been recorded preying on funnel-web spiders.

Ecosystem Role

Anostostomatidae plays an important role in the ecosystem as both herbivores and predators, contributing to the decomposition of organic matter and the control of invertebrate populations.

Cultural Significance

Wētā are culturally significant in New Zealand, often highlighted as unique and important components of the country's biodiversity; they are sometimes informally referred to as the 'god of ugly things'.

Collecting Methods

Hand collecting in their natural habitats during the night when they are active
Using light traps in areas where they are known to inhabit

Preservation Methods

Ethanol preservation for biological samples
Dry storage for taxonomic studies and displays

Evolution

Anostostomatidae's distribution patterns may trace back to the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, affecting its evolution and present-day distribution. Fossils indicate an ancient lineage within Orthoptera.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Despite some being called wētā, not all wētā belong to the Anostostomatidae family; for example, cave wētā belong to the family Rhaphidophoridae.