Motuweta isolata Johns, 1997
Mercury Islands tusked wētā, Middle Island tusked wētā
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
Conservation Status
Formerly Extinct in the Wild
Distribution & Habitat
Mercury Islands, North Island (off north-eastern coast), New Zealand
Biology & Ecology
Hypodigm
Media
References
Original scientific description:
Johns, P. M. (1997). The Gondwanaland Weta: Family Anostostomatidae (formerly in Stenopelmatidae, Henicidae or Mimnermidae): Nomenclatural Problems, World Checklist, New Genera and Species. Journal of Orthoptera Research (6): 125-138.
Other references:
Gibbs, G. W. (2002). A new species of tusked weta from the Raukumara Range, North Island, New Zealand (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae: Motuweta). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 29: 293-301. https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.2002.9518313
Hitchmough, Rod, Bull, Leigh and Cromarty, Pam. (2007). New Zealand threat classification system lists 2005. Wellington Department of Conservation. 194 pp.
Holmes, Branden. (2021). What's Lost and What Remains: The Sixth Extinction in 100 Accounts (eBook). Self published.
Lamb, Simon, Olsthoorn, Mats, Burgin, Dan, Ray, Samantha, Bell, Mike and Crowe, Patrick. (2026). Recovery and range expansion of the once critically endangered Mercury Islands tusked wētā (Motuweta isolata) on Ohinau Island, New Zealand, 16-years post-translocation. Journal of Orthoptera Research 35(1): 33-40. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.35.131747
McIntyre, M. (2001). The ecology of some large weta species in New Zealand, pp. 225-242. In: The biology of wetas, king crickets and their allies. CABI Books. https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851994086.0225
Stringer, I. A. N. and Hitchmough, R. A. (2012). Assessing the conservation status of New Zealand’s native terrestrial invertebrates. New Zealand Entomologist 35(2): 77-84.
Stringer, I., Watts, C., Thornburrow, D., Chappell, R. and Price, R. (2014). Saved from extinction? Establishment and dispersal of Mercury Islands tusked weta, Motuweta isolata, following translocation onto mammal-free islands. Journal of Insect Conservation 18: 203-214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-014-9631-y
Trewick, S., Hegg, D., Morgan-Richards, M., Murray, T., Watts, C., Johns, P. and Michel, P. (2022). Conservation status of Orthoptera (wētā, crickets and grasshoppers) in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2022. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 39. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 28 pp.
Trewick, Steve, Johns, Peter, Hitchmough, Rod, Rolfe, Jeremy and Stringer, Ian. (2016). Conservation status of New Zealand Orthoptera, 2014. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 16. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 15 pp.
Winks, C. J., Fowler, S. V. and Ramsay, G. W. (2002). Captive-rearing of the Middle Island tusked wētā. Science for Conservation 197. Wellington: Department of Conservation. 34 pp.
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1953/0031/12.0/DLM278595.html