Children's Stick Insect

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Children's Stick Insect

Children's Stick Insect

Tropidoderus childrenii

This species exhibits ‘sexual dimorphism’ i.e. a difference in size and shape between males and females. The eggs are long, tan and capsule-like. The young are bright green to whitish-green.

Details Description
Type
Invertebrate
Group
Insect - Stick Insect
Identifying Characteristics

Body up to 15 cm long. Body and wings green. Abdomen yellow and about 8 mm wide. Antennae short, about 20 mm long. Legs have flattened plates with a saw-toothed edge. Forewings are short and green with hindwings larger, transparent, with a purple patch near the base.
Distinctive Markings

Body texture and colour assists the females to look like 'leaves' and males to look like 'sticks'. Abdomen green and yellow, with a purple patch near the hind wing base.
Diet

Herbivore. Eats eucalypt leaves.
Habitat

Coastal and inland eucalypt forests.
Native Status
Native to Australia
Taxonomy
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Phasmida
Family
Phasmatidae
Genus
Tropidoderus
Species
childrenii
Children's Stick Insect
Found in eastern Australia, including throughout Victoria.

Distribution maps indicate current and historic locations where species have been sighted.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Conservation Status
DEPI Advisory List
Not listed
FFG Act
Not listed
EPBC Act
Not listed

The conservation status of species is listed within Victoria and Australia.

The Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI) Advisory List consists of non-statutory advisory lists of rare or threatened flora and fauna within Victoria.

The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) lists threatened species in Victoria. Under the Act, an Action Statement is produced for each listed species.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation, listing nationally threatened native species and ecological communities.