Deep within the dense canopies of Australia’s Wet Tropics rainforest, scientists have uncovered what is believed to be the country’s heaviest insect — a newly identified species of stick insect named Acrophylla alta.
Weighing in at 44 grams — roughly the weight of a golf ball — and measuring a remarkable 40 centimeters in length, the insect was found in a remote, high-altitude rainforest in Far North Queensland. Its massive size has surprised researchers and may be a result of its cool, wet environment.
Angus Emmott of James Cook University, who helped identify the insect, explained that the species’ large body mass could be an evolutionary adaptation to surviving colder conditions. “From what we know so far, this is Australia’s heaviest insect,” Emmott said in a media release.
The remote and hard-to-access habitat likely explains why the species went undiscovered until now. “It lives high in the canopy and is restricted to a small mountainous area. Unless one is brought down by a storm or a bird, it’s incredibly rare for anyone to spot them,” Emmott noted.
What also helped researchers confirm the discovery was the insect’s unique eggs. “Each stick insect species has its own distinct egg design — the surface, texture, shape, and even the cap are all different,” Emmott added.
Two specimens of the newly discovered Acrophylla alta have been added to the Queensland Museum’s collection, where they will support ongoing research into one of Australia’s most remarkable insect finds.
