Two new large stick insect species discovered in Australia's backyards and rainforests
Insect "detectives" have discovered two new types of large stick insects, showing scientists are still uncovering new species in some of Australia's most well-studied landscapes. Researchers at the University of Sydney have revised the Australian representatives of the stick insect genus Anchiale, identifying two new species, one with unique "lidded" eggs. They also reinstated a third species…
Researchers at the University of Sydney have discovered two new species of large stick insects in Australia, bringing the total number of recognized species to five. The findings reveal that two previously identified species are actually distinct, and one that had been overlooked for decades. The most significant discovery involves a large stick insect that was misidentified for years and is now recognized as Anchiale robusta.
Another new species, Anchiale mabiensis, was found in Queensland's critically endangered Mabi rainforest on the Atherton Tablelands. Its eggs contain a unique structural lid unlike any previously seen in stick insects or their close relatives. The study also clarified that a stick insect species notorious for forming large populations that can defoliate trees actually comprises multiple species, which will aid in better managing forestry and agricultural impacts.
Lead researcher Dr. Braxton Jones emphasized that despite extensive study and citizen science observations, Australia is still uncovering new insect species, underscoring the need to protect threatened ecosystems and document the country's biodiversity before losing species without discovery.
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