Scientists warn the public: "A new species of giant insect weighing as much as a golf ball has been discovered."
Scientists have identified a new species of giant stick insect , called Acrophylla alta, with the most striking characteristic of weighing 44 grams, similar to a golf ball. Details of the discovery have been published in the journal Zootaxa.
In depth"There are longer stick insects in the region, but they're quite light," said Professor Angus Emmott, a researcher at James Cook University who participated in the study, in a statement. "From what we know so far, this is the heaviest insect in Australia."
The eggs of these stick insects, approximately 40 cm long , were also important in identifying them as a new species, as no two eggs are alike.
"Each stick insect species has its own distinctive egg-laying style," said Professor Emmott. "They all have different surfaces, textures, and stings, and can come in different shapes . Even their caps are very unique."
A new species of stick insect, suspected to be the heaviest insect in Australia, has been discovered at high altitudes of the Atherton Tablelands, North Queensland. ????
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? Professor Angus Emmott @jcu pic.twitter.com/ruzrbUO871
Professor Emmott and his colleagues suspect that one possible reason this stick insect species hasn't been discovered until now is that its habitat is simply difficult to access . "It's limited to a small area of high-altitude rainforest and lives high in the canopy. So, unless there's a cyclone or a bird that knocks it down, very few people ever see it," he said.
Their habitat could also be the reason for their large body size. "They live in a cool, moist environment. Their body mass probably helps them survive the colder conditions, which is why they've evolved into this large insect over millions of years ," he said.
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