The giant wētā is a heavy, flightless insect that can freeze solid and survive.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Endemic to New Zealand, these cricket-like insects are among the world's heaviest. While most species are threatened by introduced predators, some alpine varieties have evolved the remarkable ability to freeze solid at sub-zero temperatures. Their genus name, Deinacrida, translates to terrible grasshopper, reflecting their impressive size and potent presence.

The giant wētā belongs to the genus Deinacrida, a group of eleven species within the family Anostostomatidae. These insects are primarily nocturnal and flightless, having evolved in the absence of mammalian predators. Their common name is derived from the Greek word for terrible or fearfully great, a nod to their substantial physical stature. While most giant wētā are larger than other insects, they typically weigh no more than 35 grams. An exceptional, gravid female was once recorded at 70 grams, though this was an outlier caused by the retention of an abnormal number of eggs.

Survival for these insects has become increasingly precarious since human arrival in New Zealand. Habitat destruction and the introduction of mammalian pests have pushed most populations to the brink of extinction, restricting many species to predator-free offshore islands. Some, like the scree wētā, have adapted to extreme environments, living at elevations around 1,200 meters. These alpine specialists can endure temperatures dropping below -5 °C by freezing solid, a survival mechanism that highlights their evolutionary resilience in harsh, high-altitude zones.

Reproductive strategies in giant wētā are complex and driven by scramble competition polygyny. Males travel vast distances to locate females, with those possessing longer legs and more slender bodies often gaining a competitive advantage. Interestingly, research into the Cook Strait giant wētā suggests that males may allocate more spermatophores to smaller females to ensure paternity and mitigate sperm competition. This behavior challenges previous assumptions that males would prioritize larger, potentially more fertile females, revealing a sophisticated and strategic approach to reproductive success in these unique, ancient insects.

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