This huge insect is a species of spiny stick insect from Papua New Guinea named Eurycantha horrida, commonly known as the THORNY DEVIL STICK INSECT. This species is wingless and lives on the rainforest floor, where it resembles bark or rotten wood. They are nocturnal and eat leaves from a variety of plants within the rainforest.

The individual above is an adult male and below you can see his rear legs, which are much larger than the front & middle legs and have absolutely enormous curved femoral spines. If threatened, these insects will rapidly bring their legs together in a pinching action to deter predators – it is very effective due to the speed & power of their leg muscles and the sharpness of the spines!

Despite their absolutely huge size as adults, they start life looking very different! Here are some newly-hatched nymphs, photographed within 24hrs of hatching:


Although individuals of both genders are largely black or very dark brown as adults and a paler brown colour at hatching, as they grow the female nymphs develop some beautiful patterning and can be a real mix of greens, yellows and browns:



Male nymphs, on the other hand, are generally a bit darker than the females. They are very glossy and beautiful even if not quite so colourful!



Like all stick insects and other arthropods, these insects have to moult or remove their old exoskeleton as they grow and develop. The picture below might look like a live insect but it is in fact the empty exoskeleton (exuvia) of a male who has moulted for the final time to become an adult!
