Kōrero: Limestone country

These wētā were photographed at Waitomo in 2005. Cave wētā are large, harmless insects. There are some 60 different species, generally found only near cave entrances, not deep inside where there is no light. Cave wētā have long antennae and legs. Unlike other wētā, they do not make sounds with their legs, and they cannot hear. They are omnivores, and scavenge dead animals on the cave floor during the day. At night they venture out to forage on plants and fungi.