General Description

Body green with a yellow upper abdomen. Forewings are short and green; hindwings are larger, transparent and have a purple patch near the base. Body up to 15 cm long.

Biology

Children's Stick Insects feed on eucalypt leaves. When disturbed, they rock their body while lifting and striking the hindlegs together, and beating their wings to display the coloured patches. This reaction also makes the surrounding vegetation vibrate.

Distribution

Eastern mainland Australia.

Habitat

Eucalypt forests, coastal and inland.

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