Two New Stick Insect Species Described in Australia, Third Reinstated After a Century
On September 21, Austral Entomology published findings from researchers who identified two new stick insect species in Australia and corrected the classification of a third that had been misidentified for over a century. The first species, Anchiale mabiensis, is native to the Mabi Forest in northern Queensland and is characterized by its distinctive lidded eggs, with females measuring 6.4 inches in length. The second, Anchiale robusta, resides in Queensland's coastal rainforests and is distinguished by its size and mottled wings, having been previously misclassified as Anchiale briareus. The team also reinstated Anchiale albopunctata, which had been incorrectly categorized with A. briareus since 1908. Co-author Braxton Jones highlighted the importance of recognizing biodiversity, noting that many species remain undocumented. Australia is home to approximately 130 stick insect species, while the global total is around 3,000.
Key facts
- Two new stick insect species, Anchiale mabiensis and Anchiale robusta, were described in Australia
- The findings were published in Austral Entomology on September 21
- Anchiale mabiensis lives in the Mabi Forest in northern Queensland and has eggs with a lidded structure bearing concentric rings
- A female Anchiale mabiensis measures 6.4 inches long
- Anchiale robusta inhabits coastal rainforests of Queensland and has large size and mottled wings
- Anchiale robusta had been misidentified as Anchiale briareus
- Anchiale albopunctata was reinstated as a distinct species after being bundled with Anchiale briareus in 1908
- Australia has about 130 stick insect species, while some 3,000 exist worldwide
- Study co-author Braxton Jones is a researcher at the University of Sydney
- Terry Carmichael of the Wet Tropics Management Authority said large swaths of the Mabi Forest's original habitat have been cleared for agriculture
Entities
Artists
- Braxton Jones
- Donna Lu
- Holly Richardson
- Terry Carmichael
- Angus J. Emmott
- Angus Emmott
- Paul D. Brock
- Carlyn Kranking
- Julius Caesar
Institutions
- University of Sydney
- Austral Entomology
- Guardian
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- James Cook University
- Wet Tropics Management Authority
- Smithsonian magazine
Locations
- Australia
- Mabi Forest
- Queensland
- Sydney
- Paris
- Greece
- Kenya