Tree weta are often distinguished by their sizable hindlegs, strong jaws, tusks on the males, their glossy and hard exoskeleton and their size.

Structurally male tree wetas have a larger head than the females, which may make up 40% of their body length.

[2] Male weta have two cerci (a pair of short tapering sensory feelers) projecting at their rear and they do not have an ovipositor.

Males have a proportionately smaller abdomen than the females and "their reproductive structures are internal, apart from two pairs of tiny lobes beneath the cerci.

[6] The distribution of this weta extends along the east coast from Kaikōura to Geraldine and can be found as far west as Nelson.

[4] Weta are often found in vacated tunnels in branches or trunks of trees, which are often initially made by other insects.

[8] A report in 2001 has been reported that H. femorata occupy a wide variety of trees, including kanuka (Kunzea ericoides), lacebark (Hoheria angustifolia), mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus), broadleaf (Griselinia littoralis) tree fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata) and beech (Fuscospora solandri).

Females tend to need extra protein before laying their eggs, so they will eat their "old skins which shed during their lifetime."

The male initiates the interaction, this involves "the general antennation (touching with the antenna), palpation and genital probing of females prior to attempting to copulate".

The female tree weta travels to the ground to find the right location and soil for her to lay her eggs.

The female uses the tip of her ovipositor to check the soil to make sure it is a suitable place for the eggs.

When she finds the right location she "lifts the end of her abdomen and twists the ovipositor vertically down, she pushes it as deep as it will go into the soil.

"[3] A study conducted by Stringer showed that adult tree weta sex ratios change with the time of year.

Moulting occurs after a weta has lost weight and been relatively inactive tending not to drink or eat for 4 to 14 days.

Females will mate only after they weigh four times as much initially and then will lay eggs/oviposit at round roughly 100 days after courtship.

[3] These weta eat "fresh leaves off a variety of trees shrubs and weeds", they are particularly fond of karamu (Coprosma robusta) and mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus).

[9] Major threats to weta include short tailed bats, birds, and reptiles such as lizards and tuatara.

[3] Birds that tend to eat this weta include the kiwi, robin, tomtit and ruru.

[7] To produce sound and communicate the Hemideina femorata moves "the sides of the abdomen against the inner surface of the hind-legs with these legs stationary in the resting position."