Eurycnema goliath

Eurycnema goliath, the goliath stick insect, is one of the largest stick insects in Australia. The first instar of a nymph is small, brown, and ant-like, without wings, however the adult insects are green and yellow, though colors can slightly vary, are very large, and have wings.

Goliath stick insect
Adult female E. goliath
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Phasmatodea
Family:
Phasmatidae
Genus:
Eurycnema

Audinet-Serville, 1838
Species:
E. goliath
Binomial name
Eurycnema goliath
(Gray, 1834)

Identification

Both sexes of the goliath stick insect are apple green with hints of gold, blue, purple, red and yellow. Colourful patterns on the underside of the wings are used as a defence tactic in order to ward off predators. The females can reach lengths of up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in). The eggs of the goliath stick insect look like seeds, so that common ants may take them underground, allowing them to hatch in safety. Males are smaller, slimmer, and darker in colour than females. While both sexes have wings, only the lightweight males can fly, as the females have a large, heavy abdomen which gives them limited, if any flight.

Habitat

The goliath stick insect can be found throughout Australia's east coast in NSW and southern Queensland, with a small population living further north in Cairns. Goliath stick insects are extremely hard to find due to their camouflage and tendency to hide in tree tops. They can be found mostly in eucalyptus trees, or small native flowers such as acacias.

  • Eggs of the goliath stick insect can be grey or nearly black
  • Goliath nymph showing triangular shapes of abdominal segments
  • Distant view of the goliath nymph

See also
  • List of Australian stick insects and mantids


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