HYBRIDIZATION OF TREE WETA ON BANKS PENINSULA, NEW-ZEALAND, AND COLORPOLYMORPHISM WITHIN HEMIDEINA-RICTA (ORTHOPTERA, STENOPELMATIDAE)

The two species of tree weta on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand, Hemidein a ricta and H. femorata, are genetically distinct though morphological ly similar. Our allozyme data coincide with species identification bas ed on numbers of stridulatory ridges. However, H. ricta appears to be poly morphic for the presence of black markings on hind femora and abd ominal tergites. At one location on Banks Peninsula, weta were collect ed that were heterozygous at all 11 loci that differ between H. ricta and those of H. femorata. The numbers of stridulatory ridges on these two individuals fall between those characterising H. ricta and H. femo rata. We conclude that these two weta are first generation hybrids, an d that the detection of only Fl hybrids suggests that they are probabl y sterile. Sex-linkage of phosphoglucomutase is found to be conserved in this family.