Giant stick insect discovered in Queensland may be Australia’s heaviest

WorldEnvironment
31 Jul 2025 • 8:29 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • A newly identified species of stick insect, Acrophylla alta, is believed to be Australia's heaviest insect.
  • The 40-cm long insect, weighing the same as a golf ball, was discovered in the Atherton tablelands in Queensland.
  • Professor Angus Emmott and Ross Coupland found the creature after a social media post drew their attention to the large bug.
  • Its remote habitat is theorised to be the reason the species remained undetected for such a long time.
  • Watch the video in full above.

IN FULL