The Biology of Wetas, King Crickets and Their Allies

Wetas are native to New Zealand and in evolutionary terms are insect 'dinosaurs' within the Orthoptera. Related species occur in South Africa, Australia, North America and to a lesser extent, Europe. This book brings together all known information on these groups (mostly in superfamilies Stenopelmatoidea and Gryllacridoidea) to form a compendium of existing scientific knowledge for future biological investigation and conservation. It is particularly useful for those working and researching in the areas of entomology, ecology and evolution, and contains 26 chapters by various authors in sections on: Systematics and biogeography (7 chapters); Morphology and anatomy (4 chapters); Ecology (3 chapters); Behaviour (5 chapters); Reproduction and development (2 chapters); Physiology (4 chapters); and Conservation of endangered species (1 chapter). A review of the Gryllacrididae is included, because of confusion over common names. A list of contributors and an index are also provided.