This giant stick insect fooled scientists for decades

Scientists have identified two new species of large Australian stick insects, including one that lays extraordinary “lidded” eggs never before recorded in the group. The discovery also revealed that a familiar stick insect had been misidentified for decades, showing how much biodiversity may still be hiding in plain sight. This giant stick insect fooled scientists for decades.

This giant stick insect fooled scientists for decades Science News from research organizations This giant stick insect fooled scientists for decades Two new giant stick insect species have been discovered in Australia, including one with bizarre “lidded” eggs unlike anything scientists had seen before. An University of Sydney research team reexamined Australian members of the stick insect genus Anchiale and discovered two new species. One produces unusual eggs with a distinctive lidlike structure.

The researchers also restored a third species that had gone unrecognized for decades. Their work shows that insects previously classified as just two species actually represent five separate species. Together, they occur from northern NSW along coastal Queensland and into tropical northern Australia.

Hidden Diversity Among Familiar Insects Scientists reached these conclusions despite a large amount of existing information about Australian stick insects.