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Story: Wētā

Cave wētā

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Cave wētā

These mating cave wētā are on Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf. During mating males pass packets of sperm (spermatophores) to the female. Many cave wētā species are not found in caves as their common name would suggest; rather, they live in the forest.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10055620

by Paul Schilov

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How to cite this page

George Gibbs, Wētā – Other wētā, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9719/cave-weta (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by George Gibbs, published 1 March 2009.