Hemiandrus pallitarsis

Description

Hemiandrus pallitarsis are a species of ground weta endemic to New Zealand. Being a ground weta, they are often found in burrows in the ground during the daytime (as they are also nocturnal). They are abundant within their distribution and are classified as "non-threatened", however they are an important food source for kiwi, in areas where kiwi are present. This species can be identified by a single foretibial spine, three prolateral spines, and four retrolateral spines on the mesotibia, and their tibia lacks a tympanal membrane (they hear only through vibrations in the ground, which is adaptive for their burrowing lifestyle). The female has an unusual appendage on her abdomen, and the male has blackened hooks on his last tergite. Whilst this species has a two year life cycle, their diet is largely unknown. The diet of other species in this genus however varies from omnivorous, to carnivorous, to herbivorous. This species of weta is unusual for an insect in that the female looks after her eggs and nymphs, this is known as maternal care.