''Hemiandrus nox'', the night ground wētā, is a species of ground wētā endemic to New Zealand. During the day, this wētā hides in

burrow An Eastern chipmunk at the entrance of its burrow A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to construct a space suitable for habitation or temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of sh ...

s in the soil and is active only at night (they are

nocturnal Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...

). The species is found in native forests in North and South Island. Females of this species have medium-long curved ovipositers to lay their eggs in the soil. Unlike some ''Hemiandrus'' species, ''H. nox'' does not show maternal care.

Taxonomy

''Hemiandrus nox'' was first described in 2016, but had been referred to in previous publications by an informal (tag) name (''Hemiandrus'' 'alius'). The species name comes from Nox, the Roman goddess of the night.

Habitat/distribution

''Hemiandrus nox'' are endemic to the North and South Island of New Zealand, but restricted to mature native forest. This species is most abundant in North-west Nelson. They are a

species and found in burrows in the ground during the day. ''Hemiandrus nox'' is sympatric with three other ''Hemiandrus'' species and is host to the intracellular bacteria ''Wollbachia.''

Conservation

The New Zealand Department of Conservation classified this species as not threatened

Diet

''Hemiandrus nox'' is probably omnivorous, but has only been observed eating invertebrates such as cicada

Morphology

This species is very similar in appearance to the three species within the ''Hemiandrus'' ''maculifrons''-complex. Adult females have a medium-long length, strongly curved ovipositor with dark patches at its base. The head and body of adults are small and dark brown with a cream and brown clypeus; sometimes with small pale patches on the pronotum. The three apical segments of the maxillary palps have fine microsetae. The spines on their legs can be used to distinguish them from sympatric species: their mid tibiae has three spines along the inferior retrolateral angle (excluding apical spine), and their hind tibiae has no inferior articulated spines. In addition male teminalia are unique.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q49633086 Weta Endemic fauna of New Zealand Insects described in 2016 Anostostomatidae Endemic insects of New Zealand