This species of tusked weta is found only on the Mercury Islands. It was discovered in 1970, at which time it was already restricted to Middle Island. In 1998 three individuals were captured for captive-breeding in order to re-establish them on other islands in the group. Those three weta - a male and two females - were amongst the last remaining on Middle Island. None have been seen there since 2001 and they are thought to now be extinct on that island. Fortunately they bred well in captivity and were introduced to two other islands.
Unlike other weta, the Tusked Weta are primarily carnivorous. In the photo the one at the front is a male, and the tuskless one at the back is the female.
