Burton - Wētāpunga (Deinacrida heteracantha)
(Photography from Zhaoxuan Li/ssw-burlg)
(Photography from Zhaoxuan Li/ssw-burlg)
January 20, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Burton - Wētāpunga (Deinacrida heteracantha)
(Photography from Zhaoxuan Li/ssw-burlg)
(Photography from Zhaoxuan Li/ssw-burlg)
Another important election coming up! New Zealand's #BugoftheYear
So many great candidates it's hard to choose.
The forest restorer's faithful friend?
Tough as a tardigrade tadpole shrimp?
Saved by an invasive species giant wētā?
Punk mite?
#sciart
So many great candidates it's hard to choose.
The forest restorer's faithful friend?
Tough as a tardigrade tadpole shrimp?
Saved by an invasive species giant wētā?
Punk mite?
#sciart
January 11, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Another important election coming up! New Zealand's #BugoftheYear
So many great candidates it's hard to choose.
The forest restorer's faithful friend?
Tough as a tardigrade tadpole shrimp?
Saved by an invasive species giant wētā?
Punk mite?
#sciart
So many great candidates it's hard to choose.
The forest restorer's faithful friend?
Tough as a tardigrade tadpole shrimp?
Saved by an invasive species giant wētā?
Punk mite?
#sciart
I must have disturbed this Wētā in Beau Vista orchard. I was sitting down for a cuppa and it crawled onto my head. They are not the prettiest but harmless. They have claws that make them hard to dislodge. The tree wētā or pūtangatanga Wētāpunga is god of ugly things #weta #NewZealand #apple #cider
January 10, 2026 at 7:31 PM
I must have disturbed this Wētā in Beau Vista orchard. I was sitting down for a cuppa and it crawled onto my head. They are not the prettiest but harmless. They have claws that make them hard to dislodge. The tree wētā or pūtangatanga Wētāpunga is god of ugly things #weta #NewZealand #apple #cider
weta!
(large bugge)
(large bugge)
December 31, 2025 at 8:19 AM
weta!
(large bugge)
(large bugge)
@christianschwaegerl wētā stammt also nicht von wētā punga; und dass wētāpunga "Gott der hässlichen Dinge" bedeutet, ist ein typisches Missverständnis von Nicht-Sprachwissenschaftler:innen (Das ist so, als würde behauptet, Pan bedeute "Hirtengott"). Aber den Gott gibt es, und darauf hast Du ja […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
December 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
@christianschwaegerl wētā stammt also nicht von wētā punga; und dass wētāpunga "Gott der hässlichen Dinge" bedeutet, ist ein typisches Missverständnis von Nicht-Sprachwissenschaftler:innen (Das ist so, als würde behauptet, Pan bedeute "Hirtengott"). Aber den Gott gibt es, und darauf hast Du ja […]
@Polylect Also es gibt schon bessere Quellen zB https://predatorfreenz.org/stories/wetapunga-giant-weta/ oder https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/news/wetapunga-the-god-of-ugly-things
Our wētāpunga is a world record holder
Its name is Wētāpunga – named for the God of Ugly Things - and our giant weta could be the heaviest adult insect in the world.
predatorfreenz.org
December 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
@Polylect Also es gibt schon bessere Quellen zB https://predatorfreenz.org/stories/wetapunga-giant-weta/ oder https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/news/wetapunga-the-god-of-ugly-things
„Der Name Weta für die Langfühlerschrecke stammt von Wetapunga, was in der Sprache der Māori 'Gott der hässlichen Dinge' bedeutet.“
#polytheismus
#polytheismus
December 3, 2025 at 8:45 AM
„Der Name Weta für die Langfühlerschrecke stammt von Wetapunga, was in der Sprache der Māori 'Gott der hässlichen Dinge' bedeutet.“
#polytheismus
#polytheismus
If you didn’t see the Wētāpunga that @lauriewinkless.bsky.social made for midwinter secret Santa, check it out. It was soooooooo cool! #SecretSantaAoNZ
Oooh this is cool! Just to say that I'm so glad I got you for #mwsecretsantaaonz - I still haven't made anything cooler than your wētāpunga. Really pleased with my giftee for #secretsantaaonz - hope you are too?
November 20, 2025 at 6:47 AM
If you didn’t see the Wētāpunga that @lauriewinkless.bsky.social made for midwinter secret Santa, check it out. It was soooooooo cool! #SecretSantaAoNZ
Oooh this is cool! Just to say that I'm so glad I got you for #mwsecretsantaaonz - I still haven't made anything cooler than your wētāpunga. Really pleased with my giftee for #secretsantaaonz - hope you are too?
November 20, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Oooh this is cool! Just to say that I'm so glad I got you for #mwsecretsantaaonz - I still haven't made anything cooler than your wētāpunga. Really pleased with my giftee for #secretsantaaonz - hope you are too?
Forgot to add link and #sciart theturnstone.substack.com/p/silent-end...
At least the wētāpunga, illustrated in the article, is making a small comeback.
At least the wētāpunga, illustrated in the article, is making a small comeback.
Silent ending
The unnoticed disappearance of our smaller species (11 minute read)
theturnstone.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Forgot to add link and #sciart theturnstone.substack.com/p/silent-end...
At least the wētāpunga, illustrated in the article, is making a small comeback.
At least the wētāpunga, illustrated in the article, is making a small comeback.
Wētāpunga | Cook Strait Giant Wētā
October 22, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Wētāpunga | Cook Strait Giant Wētā
Apparently one coaster weighs approximately the same as one female wētāpunga of the Cook Strait variety.
One day I'll get around to drawing some invertebrates, and then I'll be able to sell you coasters that weigh the same as the creature pictured on them.
One day I'll get around to drawing some invertebrates, and then I'll be able to sell you coasters that weigh the same as the creature pictured on them.
October 15, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Apparently one coaster weighs approximately the same as one female wētāpunga of the Cook Strait variety.
One day I'll get around to drawing some invertebrates, and then I'll be able to sell you coasters that weigh the same as the creature pictured on them.
One day I'll get around to drawing some invertebrates, and then I'll be able to sell you coasters that weigh the same as the creature pictured on them.
Wētāpunga - Deinacrida Heteracantha
August 13, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Wētāpunga - Deinacrida Heteracantha
Secondary Winners:
🥇 1st ($1,000 prize): ‘Unique Spirit’ Cybele Stone (Year 10), Botany Downs Secondary College
🥈 2nd ($500 prize): 'Wētāpunga’ Casey Ferguson (Year 12), Howick College
🥉 3rd ($250 prize): ‘Ko au te ao, ko te ao ko au’ Scarlett Wilson (Year 9), Mauri Kura ki Tāmaki
🥇 1st ($1,000 prize): ‘Unique Spirit’ Cybele Stone (Year 10), Botany Downs Secondary College
🥈 2nd ($500 prize): 'Wētāpunga’ Casey Ferguson (Year 12), Howick College
🥉 3rd ($250 prize): ‘Ko au te ao, ko te ao ko au’ Scarlett Wilson (Year 9), Mauri Kura ki Tāmaki
August 6, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Secondary Winners:
🥇 1st ($1,000 prize): ‘Unique Spirit’ Cybele Stone (Year 10), Botany Downs Secondary College
🥈 2nd ($500 prize): 'Wētāpunga’ Casey Ferguson (Year 12), Howick College
🥉 3rd ($250 prize): ‘Ko au te ao, ko te ao ko au’ Scarlett Wilson (Year 9), Mauri Kura ki Tāmaki
🥇 1st ($1,000 prize): ‘Unique Spirit’ Cybele Stone (Year 10), Botany Downs Secondary College
🥈 2nd ($500 prize): 'Wētāpunga’ Casey Ferguson (Year 12), Howick College
🥉 3rd ($250 prize): ‘Ko au te ao, ko te ao ko au’ Scarlett Wilson (Year 9), Mauri Kura ki Tāmaki
One of my regular kid customers forgot their comfort toy for their vaccination.
I offered one from our collection at the library - and they chose the wētāpunga - because she is such a protective mother.
(The toy has to be a she, because of the ovipositor.)
I offered one from our collection at the library - and they chose the wētāpunga - because she is such a protective mother.
(The toy has to be a she, because of the ovipositor.)
July 15, 2025 at 8:09 PM
One of my regular kid customers forgot their comfort toy for their vaccination.
I offered one from our collection at the library - and they chose the wētāpunga - because she is such a protective mother.
(The toy has to be a she, because of the ovipositor.)
I offered one from our collection at the library - and they chose the wētāpunga - because she is such a protective mother.
(The toy has to be a she, because of the ovipositor.)
Our member Dr Sarah Thomas is featured in The Spinoff in an article based on the Auckland Zoo community-first conservation approach that helped save the wētāpunga from extinction.
Read more: thespinoff.co.nz/partner/19-0...
#Conservation #BehaviourChange #AucklandZoo
Read more: thespinoff.co.nz/partner/19-0...
#Conservation #BehaviourChange #AucklandZoo
Just in time: How wētāpunga escaped extinction
'For me, having the zoo as a place of connection is like a beacon of hope.'
thespinoff.co.nz
July 2, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Our member Dr Sarah Thomas is featured in The Spinoff in an article based on the Auckland Zoo community-first conservation approach that helped save the wētāpunga from extinction.
Read more: thespinoff.co.nz/partner/19-0...
#Conservation #BehaviourChange #AucklandZoo
Read more: thespinoff.co.nz/partner/19-0...
#Conservation #BehaviourChange #AucklandZoo
Is that supposed to be good news?
And btw, why is everything always “in 2 weeks” with that wetapunga? Everything. Every time.
And btw, why is everything always “in 2 weeks” with that wetapunga? Everything. Every time.
It'll never be ww3. Stop listening to the media. All of irans allies have backed away except for China delivering them supplies. There won't be a ww3. Even if it did happen, it'll be over within 25 minutes with only 0.02% population survived.
June 19, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Is that supposed to be good news?
And btw, why is everything always “in 2 weeks” with that wetapunga? Everything. Every time.
And btw, why is everything always “in 2 weeks” with that wetapunga? Everything. Every time.
That’s one bug that came BT its name honestly.
Maybe we should start call T wetapunga! The God of Ugly Things definitely suits him.
Maybe we should start call T wetapunga! The God of Ugly Things definitely suits him.
It's a wētāpunga - an endemic insect here in Aotearoa New Zealand. Mine is bigger than life-size, but the real ones can weigh 70g and have a body length of 7.5cm! predatorfreenz.org/stories/weta...
Our wētāpunga is a world record holder
Its name is Wētāpunga – named for the God of Ugly Things - and our giant weta could be the heaviest adult insect in the world.
predatorfreenz.org
June 19, 2025 at 10:23 PM
That’s one bug that came BT its name honestly.
Maybe we should start call T wetapunga! The God of Ugly Things definitely suits him.
Maybe we should start call T wetapunga! The God of Ugly Things definitely suits him.
It's a wētāpunga - an endemic insect here in Aotearoa New Zealand. Mine is bigger than life-size, but the real ones can weigh 70g and have a body length of 7.5cm! predatorfreenz.org/stories/weta...
Our wētāpunga is a world record holder
Its name is Wētāpunga – named for the God of Ugly Things - and our giant weta could be the heaviest adult insect in the world.
predatorfreenz.org
June 19, 2025 at 10:18 PM
It's a wētāpunga - an endemic insect here in Aotearoa New Zealand. Mine is bigger than life-size, but the real ones can weigh 70g and have a body length of 7.5cm! predatorfreenz.org/stories/weta...
So, I've been 'hosting' another library's mascot for the past month. They went to the Auckland Writers Festival with me. I finally remembered to host a mihi whakatau for them.
June 18, 2025 at 2:23 AM
So, I've been 'hosting' another library's mascot for the past month. They went to the Auckland Writers Festival with me. I finally remembered to host a mihi whakatau for them.
Need more bugs in your DnD games? Lineages of the Long White Cloud is proud to have a bunch of native bugs as playable species; three lineages of wētā, pūriri moths, katipō, and huhu beetles.
Pick up LotLWC here on its launch sale: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
#kiwirpg #ttrpg #dnd #bugs
Pick up LotLWC here on its launch sale: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
#kiwirpg #ttrpg #dnd #bugs
June 16, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Need more bugs in your DnD games? Lineages of the Long White Cloud is proud to have a bunch of native bugs as playable species; three lineages of wētā, pūriri moths, katipō, and huhu beetles.
Pick up LotLWC here on its launch sale: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
#kiwirpg #ttrpg #dnd #bugs
Pick up LotLWC here on its launch sale: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
#kiwirpg #ttrpg #dnd #bugs
And the wētāpunga you've likely already seen thanks to #mwsecretsantaaonz!
I'll keep the aforementioned insta updated with my projects and future classes (which are held in New Zealand, in Village Breads in Petone). So if #needlefelting is something you're keen on, and you use insta, please follow
I'll keep the aforementioned insta updated with my projects and future classes (which are held in New Zealand, in Village Breads in Petone). So if #needlefelting is something you're keen on, and you use insta, please follow
June 14, 2025 at 4:13 AM
And the wētāpunga you've likely already seen thanks to #mwsecretsantaaonz!
I'll keep the aforementioned insta updated with my projects and future classes (which are held in New Zealand, in Village Breads in Petone). So if #needlefelting is something you're keen on, and you use insta, please follow
I'll keep the aforementioned insta updated with my projects and future classes (which are held in New Zealand, in Village Breads in Petone). So if #needlefelting is something you're keen on, and you use insta, please follow
It sure is cute and dinky, but come back to me when you've got some insects you can hand feed... with carrots.
June 14, 2025 at 2:30 AM
It sure is cute and dinky, but come back to me when you've got some insects you can hand feed... with carrots.
Wow, as a not crafty person the makers always blow me away and this time has been incredible!
Beanies, gloves, scarves, paintings, drawings, quilts, homemade treats, needle felted wētāpunga, a book of their giftee’s photography, cross-stitch projects 1/2
Beanies, gloves, scarves, paintings, drawings, quilts, homemade treats, needle felted wētāpunga, a book of their giftee’s photography, cross-stitch projects 1/2
June 7, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Wow, as a not crafty person the makers always blow me away and this time has been incredible!
Beanies, gloves, scarves, paintings, drawings, quilts, homemade treats, needle felted wētāpunga, a book of their giftee’s photography, cross-stitch projects 1/2
Beanies, gloves, scarves, paintings, drawings, quilts, homemade treats, needle felted wētāpunga, a book of their giftee’s photography, cross-stitch projects 1/2
Here's a lil video of the wētāpunga I made for #mwsecretsantaaonz. I was very happy when I saw that I'd been assigned @sophiehunt.bsky.social as my giftee, as she seems super cool (& is a fellow crafty science nerd). I'm THRILLED that she loves it ❤️
June 6, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Here's a lil video of the wētāpunga I made for #mwsecretsantaaonz. I was very happy when I saw that I'd been assigned @sophiehunt.bsky.social as my giftee, as she seems super cool (& is a fellow crafty science nerd). I'm THRILLED that she loves it ❤️