This stick insect is sexually dimorphic; that is, the male and female look very different. The much thinner male has well-developed wings (hidden at rest) and is a strong flyer, while the sausage-shaped female (swollen with developing eggs) has rudimentary wings and cannot fly.
Australian Walking Stick
Extatosoma tiaratum
Fact File
Where to see them: World of the Insect
Lifespan: 3 to 4 months
Ecological Role: Herbivore
Habitat: Tropical rainforest
Diet: Eucalyptus leavesVideo
