People Can’t Get Over the Size of New Stick Insect Species Found in Australia originally appeared on PetHelpful.
There are some seriously big bugs out there, but none quite like this one! A new species of stick insect was recently discovered in Australia, and it’s giving people the creeps. ABC News shared a video of the massive bug, and it's safe to say it's not for the faint of heart!
Although it looks like your everyday stick bug, it's a super-sized one that has wings. Researchers say that it's over 15 inches long and may be the heaviest insect in the country. Imagine taking a walk and seeing this bug walking towards you!
This is just wild! ABC News' videos don't normally get a ton of comments, but this one got more than 1,200...people had a lot to say about the big bug!
One commenter spoke the truth when they said, "Of course it’s in Australia." @WafflesandMimosas shared, "Australia really has the most subtle anti tourism ads..." @keelee added, "I don't care what anyone says Australia is Jumanji."
Related: Alien-Looking Insect Is Leaving People Scratching Their Heads
More About Australia's Recently Discovered Stick Bug
Commenter @Kevin made us laugh when he wondered, "'Scientists just discovered….' How the h*ll was a 40cm, 8kg bug not noticed before???" This new species of stick bug (aka Acrophylla alta species) weighs 1.55 ounces - about the same as a golf ball - and is 15.75 inches long, according to CNN.
Angus Emmott, of James Cook University, helped identify the insect and said, "the creature’s large size could be an evolutionary response to its cool, wet habitat." It was found in "the canopies of the mountainous Wet Tropics region of Far North Queensland, in Australia’s northeast." In a press release he explained, "Their body mass likely helps them survive the colder conditions, and that’s why they’ve developed into this large insect over millions of years.”
The reason it’s taken so long to discover these insects is twofold: the area they inhabit isn’t heavily populated, and they live high up in the trees, making them easy to miss. Emmott added, "It’s restricted to a small area of high-altitude rainforest, and it lives high in the canopy. So, unless you get a cyclone or a bird bringing one down, very few people get to see them."
People Can’t Get Over the Size of New Stick Insect Species Found in Australia first appeared on PetHelpful on Aug 10, 2025
This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
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