Two new stick insect species discovered in Queensland
Australian researchers have identified two new large stick insect species in far north Queensland, correcting a long-standing case of mistaken identity and
Australian researchers have identified two new large stick insect species in far north Queensland. The discovery shows how little is still understood about insect diversity.
Dr Braxton Jones of the University of Sydney, the study's lead author, said fieldwork provided the first clues. When we went out into the field, and we saw a whole bunch of different individuals that looked morphologically different, and they were also living in... Different habitats, that was our first hint that there was a bit more of a complicated story here, Jones explained.
A case of mistaken identity
One newly described species, Anchiale robusta, had been popular among enthusiasts and scientists for decades. Through DNA analysis, museum collections, and citizen science records, the team found it had been consistently misidentified. What was once considered a single species is now understood to be multiple distinct ones.
The research concluded that what were historically thought to be two species are actually five. These species inhabit areas from northern New South Wales into tropical north Queensland.
Physical characteristics and habitats
The two newly named species differ in size and where they live. Anchiale robusta females grow to a body length of 12 to 16cm, while males reach 9 to 10cm. Jones noted their wings are mostly black, sometimes with a purple hue underneath. "Males are always smaller than females, it’s incredibly rare for a female to be able to still fly because they are quite heavy with..." he said.
The second species, Anchiale mabiensis, lives in the critically endangered Mabi rainforest on Queensland's Atherton Tablelands. Females of this species are about 11 to 12cm long. Its eggs have an unusual structural "lid" that detaches when the insects hatch.
| Species | Female Length | Male Length | Key Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchiale robusta | 12-16 cm | 9-10 cm | Various, far north Queensland |
| Anchiale mabiensis | 11-12 cm | Not specified | Mabi rainforest, Atherton Tablelands |
Conservation implications
Dr Jones said the findings have significant conservation implications. The newly clarified species are now known to exist in smaller, more specific habitat ranges than previously assumed. This makes their populations potentially more vulnerable.
Despite being among the most documented stick insects on citizen science platforms due to their numbers, Jones emphasized how much remains unknown. The study also identified another probable new species in Cape York, though more specimens are needed for confirmation.
The discovery follows other recent finds of large Australian stick insects. Last year, on the Atherton Tablelands, scientists discovered Acrophylla alta, a 40cm-long species that weighs slightly less than a golf ball and could be Australia's heaviest insect. The country's longest species, the gargantuan stick insect, also resides in northeastern Queensland, with females growing over half a metre in length.
