Scientists have discovered a new species of giant stick insect in a remote rainforest in Australia, believed to be the heaviest of its kind ever found in the country.
Heavyweight Insect in the Canopy
The newly identified species, Acrophylla alta, weighs 44 grams (about 1.55 ounces) — roughly the same as a golf ball — and measures up to 40 centimeters (15.75 inches) in length. Researchers say its large size is likely an adaptation to the cooler, wetter conditions of its high-altitude rainforest habitat.
Professor Angus Emmott/James Cook University
A Hidden Giant in the Trees
The insect was found in the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland. Its remote and elevated canopy home likely explains why it had not been discovered until now.
“It’s restricted to a small area of high-altitude rainforest, and it lives high in the canopy. So, unless you get a cyclone or a bird bringing one down, very few people get to see them,” said James Cook University’s Angus Emmott, who helped identify the species.
Eggs Hold the Key to Identification
Scientists confirmed the discovery by studying the insect’s uniquely shaped and textured eggs. According to Emmott, each species of stick insect lays distinctively styled eggs that help in species identification.
Preserved for Science
Two specimens of the new species have been added to the Queensland Museum’s collection, where they will support ongoing research into Australia’s native insects.
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