Cave Weta vs Southern Oak Bush-Cricket
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cave Weta | Southern Oak Bush-Cricket |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gymnoplectron acanthocerum | Meconema meridionale |
| Order | Orthoptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Rhaphidophoridae | Tettigoniidae |
| Size | 30-50 mm body | 11-15 mm |
| Habitat | Indoors | Forests |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Oceania | Southern and Western Europe (expanding northward) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cave Weta
A large cave-dwelling weta endemic to New Zealand with extremely long antennae up to three times its body length. Uses its antennae to navigate in complete darkness.
Did You Know?
Cave wetas have antennae so long they can span a cave entrance like a trip wire — detecting predators and prey in pitch darkness using touch and vibration alone.
Southern Oak Bush-Cricket
A small, wingless relative of the oak bush-cricket that has rapidly spread northward across Europe, likely aided by accidental transport in vehicles. It is fully arboreal and flightless.
Did You Know?
Being flightless, it likely spread across Europe by hitchhiking on cars and trucks parked under infested trees.