#phasmatidae

Goliath Stick Insect (Clemacantha goliath), family Phasmatidae, QLD, Australia

2025 was a great year for new discoveries, and one of the biggest and best is the Highlands giant acrophylla! This new species of stick bug was described by Professors Ross M. Coupland and Angus J. Emmott is thought to be the heaviest insect in Australia, with one of the specimens caught weighing 44 g (1.5 oz)!

AKA Acanthoxyla prasina.

A less common stick insect native to New Zealand, but introduced to parts of the UK, and to the south-west of the Republic of Ireland. The species is parthenogenic - only a single male has ever been found, in Cornwall in 2016.

Stick insects get a few mentions in Maori legend. All insects are respected children of Tane. If a stick insect (or mantis) landed on a woman it was said to be a sign she was pregnant. If a stick insect is present the location was unsuitable for a garden. If a stick insect landed on someone it was a sign they had entered a sacred place.

She seems to have a few parasitic mites attached as well.

Giant prickly stick insect (Extatosoma popa) in Papua, Indonesia

This is the Strong stick insect. It was hard to photograph, as it was constantly moving, but I still hope you can admire it ❤

- Anchiale briareus

Bug of the Day