Bug FAQSpiny Leaf insect
Extatosoma tiaratum · Order: Phasmida · Family: Phasmatidae
Also called: Giant Prickly Stick Insect, Australian Walking Stick, Macleay's Spectre
Source: Wikipedia
Females grow to about 20 cm and are covered in thorn-like spikes for defense, while males are smaller at about 11 cm. When threatened they can spray a pleasant, toffee-like odor and their spiny legs can puncture skin.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Females have a heavy body with many spines and expansions on the face and legs, plus a tuft of spines on the head.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adult females reach about 20 cm (8 in) in length. Adult males are about 11 cm (4.5 in) long.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
The insect is frequently kept in laboratories and classrooms.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
All adults have glands that spray a colour-less, toffee-like odor which deters predators.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
For a 127 mm adult, a cage at least 600 mm high, 300 mm deep and 300 mm wide is recommended for two females.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They are native to Australian rainforests. The species is common in captivity and used in labs and schools.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
In the wild they feed on eucalyptus leaves, but they also accept many other broadleaf plants such as oak, rose and guava. Non-eucalyptus diets may result in smaller size or different colour.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Females live up to about 18 months, males only 6 to 8 months. Eggs hatch after roughly four months.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can click and release a toffee-like defensive odor.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
A close relative, E. popa, lives in New Guinea.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
E. popa from New Guinea looks similar but lives in a different region. Like many stick insects, it sways back and forth when disturbed.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What do they eat?
They prefer eucalyptus but will also eat many other broadleaf leaves such as oak and rose.
Source: Wikipedia
Where are they from?
They are native to rainforests in eastern Australia, especially New South Wales and Queensland.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Phasmatidae)
Smooth Stick InsectClitarchus hookeri
Margin-winged Stick InsectCtenomorpha marginipennisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Prickly Stick InsectAcanthoxyla prasinaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Spur Legged PhasmidDidymuria violescens
Titan Stick InsectAcrophylla titan
Unarmed stick-insectAcanthoxyla inermisSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extatosoma_tiaratum
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.