Extatasoma tiaratum
Females are green and reach up to 16 cm (6 in). They have tiny wings and cannot fly. Males are brown, up to 12.5 cm, have long wings and can fly. They are found in Australia. This insect should be handled carefully if held by hand because its spines can hurt the skin. The female's tail resembles that of a scorpion, but it can't sting. Instead of a sting she has an ovipositor, a tube for laying eggs.
We find that the name "Walking Stick" is a misnomer. They look more like prickly walking leaves.
This picture was taken at the Cincinnati Zoo, in May 2001.
Subfamily Tropidoderinae
Family Phasmatidae
Order Phasmatodea
Superorder Orthopteroids
Subclass Neoptera
Class Insecta
Subphylum Uniramia
Phylum Arthropoda
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
Index