Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Acrophylla Alta Confirmed as Australia’s Heaviest Insect, Search for Males Continues

Published in Zootaxa, this study shows how a social-media tip led to the discovery of a giant stick insect adapted to the Atherton Tablelands’ cool, humid canopy

Das rätselhafte Rieseninsekt
Image
Image

Overview

  • Female Acrophylla alta reached 40 cm in length and weighed about 44 g, potentially making it the heaviest insect recorded in Australia.
  • A social-media photo tip prompted canopy expeditions in the Atherton Tablelands, leading researchers to collect the first specimen in July.
  • Detailed morphological examinations and distinctive egg characteristics published in Zootaxa validated Acrophylla alta as a new species.
  • Scientists suggest the insect’s large body mass reflects evolutionary adaptation to cooler, more humid conditions at around 1,000 m elevation.
  • Field teams are now focused on locating elusive male specimens to complete the species description and deepen understanding of canopy biodiversity.