Three new species of wētā have been discovered in the South Island.
In a newly published paper, Massey University professor in evolutionary ecology Steven Trewick detailed the discoveries, saying the new species were “immediately recognisable as novel discoveries”.
The three new species belonged to two newly described genera.
Among the findings was the newly described “Crux” genus, with two new species.
They are Crux boudica found in Rakiura Stewart Island and southwest South Island, and Crux heggi from northwest South Island.
“The genus Crux reflects the southern occurrence of this newly discovered diversity, and the type species Crux boudica is named for the Iceni queen due to the female’s heavily armed appearance,” Trewick said.
“Crux heggi is named after Danilo Hegg, an orthopterist who collected specimens of this taxon and has made significant contributions to the study of New Zealand Rhaphidophoridae.”
The second genus identified was Occultastella, which includes the newly discovered Occultastella morgana from northwest South Island.
Trewick said the species is characterised by its dark and white flame-like markings on the head.
The species was first found in 2012 among the coal-measure soils of the Denniston Plateau and has since been located near Lake Rotoiti and in the Kahurangi region.
“Often referred to as wētā, these crickets are better called tokoriro to distinguish them from true wētā (Anostostomatidae),” Trewick said.
“They belong to a family (Rhaphidophoridae) found worldwide but New Zealand has a rich, endemic fauna of the flightless crickets inhabiting forests, alpine zones and caves.”