The species is occurs on the South Island and is classified as "Naturally Uncommon".

[2] This species of wētā is unusual for an insect in that the female looks after her eggs and nymphs; this is known as maternal care.

This name is given to this species due to the bight orange colour of the insects, and as sister to H. maia, a reference to their morphological similarity.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation classified this species as naturally uncommon[2] Hemiandrus electra is probably omnivorous, but has only been observed eating invertebrates such as cicada [1] Kahurangi ground wētā females have a medium-length ovipositor.

Morphological they are very similar to the Otago ground wētā H. maia, but can be distinguished by number of tergal stridulatory pegs and male terminalia.