Giant Prickly Stick Insect vs German Scorpionfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Prickly Stick Insect German Scorpionfly
Scientific Name Extatosoma tiaratum Panorpa germanica
Order Phasmatodea Mecoptera
Family Phasmatidae Panorpidae
Size 100-150 mm (females) 12-16 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Carrion Feeders
Regions Oceania Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Giant Prickly Stick Insect

Large Australian stick insect with lobed legs resembling leaves. Females drop eggs that mimic seeds — ants carry them underground to their nests where they safely develop.

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Did You Know?

Giant prickly stick insect eggs have a knob that mimics a seed nutrient body — ants carry the eggs to their underground nests, unwittingly protecting them from predators.

German Scorpionfly

A scorpionfly with bold wing markings found in shaded woodland habitats across central Europe. Like other Panorpa species, it has a distinctive elongated face.

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Did You Know?

German scorpionflies frequently steal prey from spider webs, delicately plucking trapped insects without becoming ensnared themselves.