New Zealand Stick Insects (Phasmatodea)
A pictorial guide to help assist in New Zealand stick insects identification. Be mindful that although some species may look similar, there are differences in their location and egg morphology. Some are only found in certain localities.
Another good place to have a look:
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unarmed stick-insect
Acanthoxyla inermis (the unarmed stick insect) is an insect which was described by John Tenison Salmon 1955. Acanthoxyla inermis is included in the genus Acanthoxyla, and family Phasmatidae. No subspecies are listed. The species is a netive of New Zealand but has since been unintentionally moved to Great Britain where it has grown a stable population and is the ...more ↓
Prickly Stick Insect
Acanthoxyla prasina or prickly stick insect is a stick insect in the order Phasmatodea and the family Phasmatidae. It is found throughout New Zealand, although it is less frequently reported than "common" stick insect species. It has a thorny skin, which is used as camouflage.
Smooth Stick Insect
Clitarchus hookeri, is a stick insect of the family Phasmatidae, endemic to New Zealand. It is possibly New Zealand's most common stick insect. Clitarchus hookeri is often green in appearance, but can also be brown or red in colour.
Clitarchus rakauwhakanekeneke
Clitarchus rakauwhakanekeneke is a stick insect that belongs the common New Zealand genus Clitarchus. It lives only on the Poor Knights Islands.
Clitarchus tepaki
Clitarchus tepaki is a stick insect that belongs the common New Zealand genus Clitarchus. It is endemic to the North Cape area of New Zealand, in particular Te Paki and the Karikari Peninsula.
New Zealand Giant Stick Insect
Argosarchus horridus, or the New Zealand giant stick insect, is a stick insect of the family Phasmatidae, endemic to New Zealand and the only member of its genus. Their body-length, up to 15 cm, is the longest of any New Zealand insect.
Tepakiphasma ngatikuri
Tepakiphasma ngatikuri is a stick insect of the family Phasmatidae, endemic to a single patch of forest near the northernmost tip of the North Island, New Zealand. It was not discovered until 2008, and is the only member of the genus Tepakiphasma.
