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Spiny Leaf Insect (male)

Family Phasmatidae, Extatosoma tiaratum

Photo by Andrea Lim
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Large stick insect to 22cms. I lay perfectly still to remain undetected. Legs look like leaves, great camouflage. Wings forming, during the final moult. Look closely at the head. It looks like its head is on backwards. Maybe the strategy is: it looks like it is looking at you (the proverbial 'eyes in the back of its head')

Habitat:

Open woodland at Cattana Wetlands QLD

Notes:

Thank you Martin for confirming the ID for me. Much appreciated!

Reference Links:

Extatosoma tiaratum, File:Australian Leaf Insect, portrait.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Species ID Suggestions

Spiny leaf insect

Extatosoma tiaratum - male

Reference Link
MartinL
1

Comments (10)
Andrea Lim
Thank you to Olivia, Lauren, Leanne and Smith Zoo for your comments. Yes not the best use of its camo gear :-)
Olivia Chee
Lucky it was just a spotter with a camera instead of a predator...
Smith Zoo
Unlucky to land on a green leaf.... with all that great camo.... ;)
Andrea Lim
Martin, thank you so much for all of the wonderful information and the confirmation of the ID. I really appreciate it! Cheers Andrea
drP
Fantastic!
MartinL
Your tentative ID is totally correct. This is a male and my link shows it with its large wings. In fact the feature pic shows its wings forming during its final molt. Females are quite different http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8199326 and were once thought to be different species. Although called leaf insects (and although they actually mimic leaves rather than sticks) they are true stick insects. Leaf insects are broader, green and belong to the other family within the Phasmatidae order.

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Photographed
PublishedMarch 13, 2013

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