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 slimmer and only about 11 cm long. They live in Australian rainforests but are common in captivity, schools and labs.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Females have a heavy body with many spines and extra skin flaps on the face and legs, plus a tuft of spines on the head.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Female adults reach about 20 cm (8 in) in length. Males are smaller, about 11 cm (4.5 in) long.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
They are frequently kept in schools, laboratories and as pets.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
For a 127 mm adult female, a cage at least 600 mm high, 300 mm deep and 300 mm wide is recommended.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
The species is native to rainforests in eastern Australia.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
It eats eucalyptus leaves in the wild but can be fed many other broadleaf plants such as oak, rose and guava in captivity.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Females lay eggs that hatch after about four months. Females live up to 18 months, while males live only 6 to 8 months.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can make clicking sounds and release a pleasant, toffee-like odor when threatened.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes eastern New South Wales, eastern Queensland, with old records in eastern Victoria and possible introductions in South Australia.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
A close relative, Extatosoma popa, lives in New Guinea. Like other stick insects, it sways back and forth when disturbed.
Source: Wikipedia
Questions people ask
Can the spiny leaf insect hurt people?
Adults can clamp with the sharp spines on their back legs, and those spines can puncture skin deeply.
Source: Wikipedia
Do they release any odor?
All adults can spray a pleasant, toffee-like odor when threatened.
Source: Wikipedia
How big do they get?
Females grow to about 20 cm, while males are around 11 cm long.
Source: Wikipedia
Where do they come 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 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.