The weta are flightless and nocturnal New Zealand insects of quite a large size. There are tree weta, giant weta, ground weta, tusked weta and cave weta; the most common one found in New Zealand gardens being the tree weta. Keeping weta happy in your garden is an important part of keeping biodiversity thriving and ensuring a healthy ecosystem. Tree weta live in tree holes by day and roam around the garden by night. Being omnivores, they tend to eat most plant material and the occasional hapless insect that crosses their path. You can help weta stay in your garden by making a home for them; since wetas don't make their own holes, male weta tend to use what they find and defend it from other male weta.
Steps[]
- Make sure you have weta in your garden. Even urban gardens have their fair share of this amazing insect.
- Use bamboo to make a home. It is very important that the bamboo be dry, untreated by any chemicals and not already housing any other insect.
- Drill holes into the bamboo. Weta like holes that are small at the entrance (they will happily squeeze into it) and that enters a large living area inside. Make a few holes along the length to give them some choice.
- Attach the bamboo on a tree, fence post or other elevated place that the weta can climb to.
Tips[]
- Make a viewing window hole. If you are curious as to your weta's lifestyle, cover one of the wholes totally with perspex and replace the piece of wood that has been removed with hinges so that you can flip it up and peer in now and then. Make sure that there are adequate other holes for it to squeeze through as well as uninterrupted cabin space for resting!
- Weta can be found in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and some parts of South America.
Precautions[]
- Keep your cats in at night; they are one of the key forces of weta destruction.
- Tree wetas can bite (they have powerful mandibles) but this is fairly rare; don't disturb or tease them. Also beware of scratches from them; get disinfectant treatment and see a doctor if any infection develops.
- Try to keep undisturbed parts of your garden; many species of weta are endangered and they are very vulnerable to habitat disturbance.
Materials[]
- Bamboo piece
- Drill or hand boring tool
- Attachment items (nails, twine, wire etc.) to attach to object
- Perspex and hinges if making the viewing window hole