A new species of stick insect – Australia’s heaviest ever – has been uncovered in the remote rainforests of Atherton Tablelands.
Weighing 44 grams and stretching 40 centimeters long, Acrophylla alta was found high in the canopy, where few humans venture.
Professor Angus Emmott, from James Cook University, says its size may help it survive the region’s cold, wet climate.
“Their body mass likely helps them survive the colder conditions, and that’s why they’ve developed into this large insect over millions of years.”
“There are longer stick insects out there [in the region], but they’re fairly light bodied,” he said.
“From what we know to date, this is Australia’s heaviest insect.”
Two specimens of the species have now been included in the Queensland Museum to help other scientists with species identification and conservation.
