Jeanne just called me out to the deck. She had taken one large empty clay pot out of another and discovered a dead weta in the bottom of the other. Well, one dead weta and parts of what appears to be yet another weta. (even more dead than the first one)
It appears that the dead weta must have eaten the body portion of another weta. It left the legs. Then it died itself. (serves it right)
I did a little research and discovered that wetas are definitely cannibalistic, especially when overcrowding occurs.
In the case of our dead (but physically complete) weta, it appears that it felt that two wetas in a large flower pot constituted overcrowding and went about correcting the problem.
I don't have many pictures, but here they are. The weta appears to have dried up somewhat.
Interesting things that not too many would notice or try to understand what they even saw!
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the great things about retirement. Plenty of time to notice and appreciate things.
DeleteEwwwwwe! Creepy but interesting - at least they're not as big as the murder hornets that made their debut in the US this year (or are they?). I suppose they do have a proper place in the ecosystem long as they stay far away from me!
ReplyDeleteI don't how big the murder hornets you mention are. This guy was just over two inches long. That's on the small side for a weta. I read that they get up to 3.9 inches long.
Deletejust did a little research.. Wetas are BIGGER than murder hornets that only get up to 2 inches.. but the hornets are far more destructive.
ReplyDeleteAnd they probably don't eat each other either.
ReplyDeleteWhat interesting creatures! I did a quick google search also and there are about 70 species of wetas in New Zealand. I guess only a few actually bite but those jaws look dangerous. McKenzie
ReplyDeleteI'd really like to find a big one someday.
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