New Queensland stick insects underline conservation gaps for little‑studied invertebrates

University of Sydney researcher Braxton Jones announced the identification of two previously unknown stick‑insect species – Anchiale robusta and Anchiale mabiensis – during field work in Far North Queensland.

Anchiale robusta reaches about 160 mm, carries large mottled wings and inhabits coastal rainforest stretching from Tully to north of Cooktown. Anchiale mabiensis is smaller, about 115 mm, and has only been recorded in the Mabi Forest on the Atherton Tablelands.

The unusual eggs of A. mabiensis feature a series of rings and a lid, a structure not seen in other stick‑insect eggs. Jones’s findings were published in the scientific journal Austral Entomology.

Terry Carmichael of the Wet Tropics Management Authority warned that the Mabi Forest is classified as a threatened ecological community under Commonwealth law, and he added that research on invertebrates still lags behind that on many other animal groups.

Because both insects occupy very limited ranges, their discovery highlights the need for more detailed surveys of understudied invertebrates. Knowing exactly which species live in fragile habitats helps managers make better conservation decisions.

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