Extatosoma tiaratum

Exatostoma tiaratum
E. tiaratum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Phasmatodea
Family:	Phasmatidae
Subfamily:	Extatosomatinae
Genus:	Extatosoma
Species:	E. tiaratum
Binomial name
Extatosoma tiaratum (Macleay, 1826)

Extatosoma tiaratum, commonly known as the giant prickly stick insect, the spiny leaf insect,Macleay's spectre, or the Australian walking stick, is a large species of stick insect endemic to Australia. The species has the Phasmid Study Group number PSG9.

E. tiaratum is native to Queensland and New South Wales but has extralimital distribution as far away as New Guinea.

Female adult E. tiaratum are covered with thorn-like spikes for defense and camouflage. Their long, rounded bodies grow to about 5 to 8 inches (20 cm) long. The females are further described as "heavy-bodied, brachypterous and (having) numerous spines and integumental expansions on the face and legs, including a tuft of spines on the conical occiput of the hypognathous head". As mentioned, the wings of the female are too small for flying, especially when she is gravid.

Exhibiting the sexual dimorphism of many similar insects (particularly other phasmids as well as mantises), males are small and thinner, growing only about 11 cm in length and have three ocelli. Males lack the thorny growths except for spikes around their faces. They have long wings and are good flyers who readily take to the air if disturbed or in search of females.

Both sexes, when threatened, stand on the front and middle legs, pointing their abdomen up or to the side in a sort of "scorpion" pose. They fold back their legs to defend themselves if anything comes in contact with their abdomen. Adults can release a defensive odor that humans might not find offensive as it "is rather reminiscent of peanut butter, vinegar or toffee".

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Wikipedia