Wētā punga (Deinacrida heteracantha)Heavyweight championThe wētā punga is the largest of New Zealand's 11 giant weta species and one of the world's heaviest insects. AncientAncestors of the wētā punga have been around for more than 190 million years, pre-dating dinosaurs, and have changed little in this time. Premier pooperFor its size, the predominantly vegetarian wētā punga produces one of the largest poo pellets of any insect. Here staff have bred thousands of weta punga since collecting their first breeding stock of six pairs from Hauturu (Little Barrier) in 2012. Tonight's release of weta punga onto Otata follows the release of over 1250 onto neighbouring Motuhorapapa in 2015.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 24, 2016 09:33 UTC