Tree Weta
As night time arrives, your garden comes alive.
High up in the holes of the lowland trees lurks
Weta Rakau making way out of their gloomy galleries.
The six legged invertebrate,
Protected by the nut hard shield,
Creeps through the forest in search of food.
Their mouth running dry at the sight of
leaves, lichen, seed heads,
fruit and flowers appear
they begin to munch on their tasty kai.
As Spring appears they begin to mate,
Males fighting off others with razor sharp jaws
And pointed spiked legs.
Once Naghuru arrives,
Six to ten at a time,
Lay the eggs at night time.
As they mature they’re shedding their skin,
This process continues
Like the shimmery, shining sun passing by.
As predators over there, seek high and low
in search of tasty midnight snacks.
Weka, Kiwi, Reptiles and bats
Were native predators before cats and rats.
Aotearoa New Zealand fills the ngahere with
Giant weta, Tusked weta, Ground weta and Cave weta.
Danger of soon not being found.
By Greanne
