Canterbury Tree Weta vs Sand Treader Cricket

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Canterbury Tree Weta Sand Treader Cricket
Scientific Name Hemideina femorata Ammobaenetes phrixocnemoides
Order Orthoptera Orthoptera
Family Anostostomatidae Rhaphidophoridae
Size Body 35-40 mm 12-18 mm
Habitat Forests Deserts & Drylands
Diet Fruit Feeders Herbivores
Regions New Zealand North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Canterbury Tree Weta

A medium-sized tree weta found in the eastern South Island of New Zealand. It has dark brown banding on the abdomen and is active on cool nights.

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Did You Know?

It can remain active at temperatures close to freezing, unlike most other large insects.

Sand Treader Cricket

A pale, wingless cricket highly adapted to life on desert sand dunes. Its oversized hind legs have paddle-like spines for walking on loose sand.

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Did You Know?

It emerges only at night and buries itself deep in the sand during the day to avoid heat and predators.