Hemiandrus focalis is a species of ground wētā endemic to New Zealand. This flightless Orthoptera lives in the mountains of the South Island, New Zealand.^[2] This species can be distinguished from other ground wētā by their three superior retrolateral spines on their mid tibia and females have relatively long ovipositors.^[3] This omnivorous ground wētā species is listed as "not threatened" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.^[4]

Quick Facts Hemiandrus focalis, Scientific classification ...

Hemiandrus focalis
Adult female near Bannockburn, South Island, New Zealand
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Orthoptera
Suborder:	Ensifera
Family:	Anostostomatidae
Genus:	Hemiandrus
Species:	H. focalis
Binomial name
Hemiandrus focalis (Hutton, 1896)
Synonyms
Zealandosandrus maculifrons sensu Salmon 1950[1]

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Hemiandrus focalis was formally placed in the genus Zealandosandrus by Salmon in 1950.^[5] The genus Zealandosandrus was formed to separate species with the distinct traits of long ovipositors and the absence of a modified 6th abdominal sternite in female wētā.^[6] However, this genus is now regarded as synonymous with Hemiandrus^[2], as some ground wētā species have intermediate length ovipositers^[2][7] and Hemiandrus focalis has weakly developed paramedian lobes on the female 6th sternite.^[8]

This species can be distinguished from other ground wētā by their three superior retrolateral spines on their mid tibia and females have relatively long ovipositors.^[3] Ovipositor length vary in different ground wētā species. Hemiandrus focalis is one of about ten Hemiandrus species with females possessing long ovipositors.^[2][9][10] The tarsus of H. focalis is also described as bare with only a few erect setae.

All species within the genus Hemiandrus are nocturnal.^[2] Individuals of H. focalis are found during the day in soil burrows in native forest or in burrows of stony silts in open habitat.^[2] The habitat of Hemiandrus focalis extends into high elevation in the alpine zone above the tree line.^[9] This species are distributed across the mountains of New Zealand's South Island and also found present on Codfish Island.^[2]

Hemiandrus focalis is one of the Hemiandrus species that has an omnivorous diet.^[2] Omnivorous ground wētā such as H. maia are found to consume fruits, seeds and other invertebrates.^[9]

Hemiandrus focalis lay their eggs in the ground similar to the suborder Ensifera.^[6] The long ovipositors in the females suggest that they do not have maternal care.^[6] This species may take three years to reach maturity.^[8]

Nuptial gifting occurs in Hemiandrus species where the male attaches a spermatophylax with the sperm ampulla onto the female when mating.^[6] Although the mating process of the H. focalis has not be recorded specifically, Hemiandrus species with long ovipositors have been recorded to have a spermatophylax attached to the sperm ampulla.^[11]

This species is classified as "not threatened" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation in 2014. Ground wētā are important as they are part of the diet of native kiwi^[12] They are also eaten by introduced mammals in New Zealand such as hedgehogs^[13] and stoats.^[14]