The World's Heaviest Insect

 A nature-lover has revealed how he spent two days tracking down a giant insect on a remote New Zealand island – and got it to eat a carrot out of his hand. The former park ranger discovered the giant weta up a tree and his real life Bug's Bunny has now been declared the largest ever found.

The find is the world's biggest insect in terms of weight, which at 71g (2.5 ounces) is heavier than a sparrow and three times that of a mouse.

There are over 70 types of Weta species in New Zealand but the giant weta has been named the biggest insect in the world because of its weight. A female giant weta filled with eggs can reach up to 70g or more and the largest of the species are found on Little Barrier Island. They are usually less social and more passive than other weta.

Their diet consists of plants, other small insects and fruit. Their size is an example of island gigantism, which is a biological phenomenon leading to a larger size than their mainland relatives because of their isolation and lack of large predators.

See the original article here.