New Species of Giant Stick Insect Discovered in Australia

Australian entomologists have described a new spectacular species of the gender insect of stick Acrophylla From two female specimens as well as eggs.

Holotype of Acropylla alta in nature. Image credit: Ross M. Coupland.

Described for the first time in 1835, Acrophylla is a kind of stick insects in the phasmatini tribe.

Gender members are in China, Australia, New Guinea and surrounding islands such as Tasmania and Larat.

The newly described Acrophylla Species occur in the areas of the highlands of the Bioregion of the Tropics wet, Queensland, Australia.

“These locations include MT Lewis National Park, the Tablelands Evelyn (probably including Maalan National Park), Topaz, Upper Barron, Mt Hypipamee and Danbulla,” said Professor Angus Emmott at James Cook University and his colleague Ross Coupland.

Appointed Acropylla altaThe new species measures up to 40 cm (16 inches) in length and weighs approximately 44 g.

It has a generally clear brown coloring and is extremely well camouflaged despite its large size.

“There are longer stick insects in the region, but they are quite light,” said Professor Emmott.

“From what we know to date, it is the heaviest insect in Australia.”

Acropylla altaEggs were also important to identify it as a new species.

“All species of stick insects have their own distinct egg style,” said Professor Emmott.

“They all have different surfaces and different textures and bites, and they can be different forms.”

“Even the caps on them are all very unique.”

Researchers suspect a possible reason Acropylla alta has not been discovered so far that its habitat is simply too difficult to access.

“Their habitat could also be the reason for their large body size,” said Professor Emmott.

“It is a cool and humid environment where they live.”

“Their body mass probably helps them to survive the coldest conditions, and that is why they have become this big insect over millions of years.”

“The discovery of a new species of insect so large testifies to the importance of protecting the remaining and biologically diverse habitats and ecosystems, as there may be other species of stick insects and other insects while awaiting discovery and description.”

The discovery of Acropylla alta is reported in an article in the newspaper Zootaxa.

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ROSS M. Coupland & Angus J. Emmott. 2025. A new giant species of Acrophylla Gray, 1835 (phasmida: phasmatidae: phasmatini) of the highlands of the tropics wet, Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa 5647 (4): 371-383; DOI: 10.11646 / Zootaxa. 5647.4.4.4