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Project Noah Nature School
Family Phasmatidae, Extatosoma tiaratum
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')
Open woodland at Cattana Wetlands QLD
Thank you Martin for confirming the ID for me. Much appreciated!
Thank you to Olivia, Lauren, Leanne and Smith Zoo for your comments. Yes not the best use of its camo gear :-)
Martin, thank you so much for all of the wonderful information and the confirmation of the ID. I really appreciate it! Cheers Andrea
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/819... 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.
Spotted on Jan 12, 2012
Submitted on Mar 13, 2013
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