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Researchers believe Acrophylla alta is an insect of record-setting proportions.(Image credit: James Cook University)ShareShare by:
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A previously unidentified enormous stick insect was detected within the high-elevation rainforests of Australia — and it might just be the heftiest insect ever cataloged in the nation.
The massive creature, dubbed Acrophylla alta by investigators, reaches a size of approximately 16 inches (40 centimeters). This sizable insect inhabits the hard-to-reach treetops of tropical North Queensland, potentially clarifying its lengthy evasion of scientific observation.
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A recent discovery has unveiled a stick insect species with a mass approximate to a golf ball, found within the canopies of a faraway rainforest in Australia’s northeast, as shared Thursday by an Australian academic institution. According to scientists, the winged insect, Acrophylla alta, likely holds the title of heaviest ever… pic.twitter.com/kacIxGOXNYJuly 31, 2025
It isn’t the most lengthy stick insect within Australia — an accolade claimed by gargantuan stick insects (Ctenomorpha gargantua), which grow up to around 22 inches (57 cm) and reside within the same locale as A. alta. Nevertheless, A. alta tips the scales at a greater weight.
“There exist longer stick insects there [in that habitat], but they are relatively light,” remarked study co-author Angus Emmott, an investigator hailing from James Cook University in Australia, in a released statement. “Based on current insights, this is the most ponderous insect in Australia.”
An individual examined in the study was found to measure approximately 1.6 ounces (44 grams) — roughly double the measurement of a grown female gargantuan stick insect laden with eggs previously documented by researchers, as per the study’s specifics.
Investigators unearthed A. alta within the Tablelands territory of North Queensland, positioned 1,600 to 3,900 feet (500 to 1,200 meters) beyond sea level. A. alta apparently subsists on foliage in the forest canopy, where it generally evades recognition by humans, according to details from the study.
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“Its existence is confined to a narrow area of elevated rainforest, dwelling high above in the canopy,” Emmott stated. “Consequently, barring an event like a cyclone or transport by a bird, encounters are exceptionally rare.”
The creature’s remarkable dimensions might be associated with its capacity to thrive within a cooler, high-altitude setting. This squares with the evolutionary tendency known as Bergmann’s rule, which suggests that organisms tend to evolve larger sizes in colder environments. While not all creatures adhere to Bergmann’s rule, and its appropriateness to insects remains somewhat questionable, the underlying principle points to larger animals having diminished surface area-to-volume ratios, contributing to heat retention — a potentially advantageous trait for A. alta.
“They dwell in a chilly, moist setting,” Emmott explained. “Their substantial mass likely bolsters survival in frigid conditions, influencing their evolution into such a sizable insect over countless millennia.”
Patrick PesterSocial Links NavigationTrending News Writer
Patrick Pester holds the role of trending news writer for Live Science. His published pieces have also appeared across other scientific platforms, encompassing BBC Science Focus and Scientific American. Patrick switched to a career in journalism subsequent to dedicating his early profession to working within zoos and wildlife preservation. He was honored with the Master’s Excellence Scholarship to enroll at Cardiff University where he completed a master’s degree in international journalism. Additionally, he acquired a second master’s degree focused on biodiversity, evolution and conservation in action from Middlesex University London. Beyond crafting news pieces, Patrick explores the transactions involving human remains.
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