Giant Insect Discovered in Australia Could Be the Biggest Ever

You won’t believe what scientists just pulled out of the trees in northern Australia.

A massive stick insect, nearly half a meter long and heavier than a golf ball, has been discovered in the remote rainforests of Queensland. It’s so huge, researchers had to use a pole just to get it down from the treetops. Yes, this thing is real — and it might be Australia’s biggest insect ever.

The gigantic creature, now officially named Acrophylla alta, had been hiding in plain sight for who knows how long. It was finally spotted thanks to a social media photo that caught the eye of entomologist Ross Coupland. He immediately knew it was something special.

What followed was a series of late-night jungle hunts through the Atherton Tablelands. After days of searching, Coupland and James Cook University’s Professor Angus Emmott found her — a supersized female clinging high above the forest floor between Millaa Millaa and Mount Hypipamee.

When they finally brought her down, the sight was shocking. Long, green, and powerful, this stick insect dwarfed anything they had seen before.

Hidden in the Clouds for Years

Why wasn’t this massive insect discovered sooner? The answer lies in its sky-high lifestyle. These insects live in the upper canopy of ancient rainforest trees, far out of reach of most humans. Unless one falls during a storm or gets caught by a bird, people simply never see them.

But size might be the key to its survival. The cool, wet climate of these high-altitude forests could be the reason Acrophylla alta evolved such an impressive body. Larger insects retain heat better, making it easier to live in chillier treetop zones.

But Where Is the Male?

So far, only one female has been collected. Scientists are now on the hunt for the male, but it’s proving extremely difficult. Male stick insects are often much smaller and look so different they’re mistaken for separate species. Finding a male mating with the female is the only sure way to confirm their relationship — and that moment is still waiting to happen.

This Bug Is Just the Beginning

Queensland Museum’s insect expert Dr. Nicole Gunter says this discovery proves there’s still a massive amount of biodiversity in Australia that science has yet to document. In fact, she estimates that up to 70 percent of insect species in Australia haven’t even been named yet.

And here’s the catch: if we don’t know a species exists, we can’t protect it. That’s why discoveries like this one matter more than ever.

For now, Acrophylla alta has only been spotted in a handful of locations deep in the wet tropics. But there’s no telling how many more giants are hiding just out of sight, high above our heads.

So if you’re heading into the rainforest anytime soon, don’t just watch your step. Look up — your next big surprise could be clinging to a branch.