Scientists uncovered a new species of winged giant stick insects in the rainforests of Queensland, Australia, James Cook University confirmed in July.
The bug, which is now believed to be Australia’s heaviest insect, weighs 44g and measures roughly 40cm in length.
The new species, named Acrophylla alta, inhabits the Wet Tropics, in the far North of Queensland.
Angus Emmott, of James Cook University in Townsville, explained that the insect’s large size likely evolved to help it survive in the cool, rain-soaked habitat.
“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,” he said.
“From what we know to date, this is Australia’s heaviest insect.
“It’s got quite substantial wings, but it can only sort of use them for gliding down to the ground, because it’s got such a bulky body as well.”
Discovering the new insect
Emmott and his colleague Ross Coupland set out in search of the creature after discovering a photo of one. They have since captured two females.
“I think you could spend a long time looking for one and not find one,” said Emmott. “They live in high-altitude forest, high in the canopy, and unless a bird knocks one down or you get a cyclone or a storm that knocks one down we just can’t find them up there in the canopy.”
Prof Peter Valentine, a former chairman of the Wet Tropics Management Authority, hypothesized that there are many new species to be discovered in the rainforest.
“Canopies are not well studied so there’s a chance there are many more species in the canopy than we can even imagine,” he told the ABC.