Kentucky Cave Cricket vs Weta Piki (Jumping Weta)

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Kentucky Cave Cricket Weta Piki (Jumping Weta)
Scientific Name Ceuthophilus stygius Hemiandrus pallitarsis
Order Orthoptera Orthoptera
Family Rhaphidophoridae Anostostomatidae
Size 13-25 mm 15-25 mm
Habitat Caves Forests
Diet Fungus Feeders Detritivores
Regions United States Oceania (New Zealand)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Kentucky Cave Cricket

A large cave cricket found throughout the cave systems of Kentucky and surrounding states. It has extremely long antennae and powerful jumping legs.

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Did You Know?

It leaves caves at night to forage and brings nutrients back into the cave ecosystem.

Weta Piki (Jumping Weta)

A small ground weta endemic to New Zealand, found in forest leaf litter. It is nocturnal and burrows into the soil during the day. Ground weta are the most species-rich group of weta, with many species still being discovered and described.

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Did You Know?

New species of ground weta are still being discovered in New Zealand, with more than 40 species now known, many identified only in the last two decades.