Mahoenui Giant Weta vs Clouded Yellow
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Mahoenui Giant Weta | Clouded Yellow |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Deinacrida mahoenui | Colias croceus |
| Order | Orthoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Anostostomatidae | Pieridae |
| Size | Body 50-70 mm | Wingspan 46-54mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | New Zealand | Europe, Africa, Asia |
| Conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
Mahoenui Giant Weta
A critically threatened giant weta originally surviving in a single patch of introduced gorse scrub. It is brown with lighter banding and is largely arboreal.
Did You Know?
Ironically, the invasive gorse bush has protected this weta from predators by providing spiny refuge.
Clouded Yellow
A fast-flying bright orange-yellow butterfly with black wing borders. A pale female form called helice has greenish-white wings instead of orange.
Did You Know?
It migrates north from the Mediterranean each year but the return generation flies south at such high altitude it is rarely observed.