Malagasy Walking Stick vs Peppered Moth of New Zealand
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Malagasy Walking Stick | Peppered Moth of New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Achrioptera impennis | Cleora scriptaria |
| Order | Phasmatodea | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Achriopteridae | Geometridae |
| Size | 140-210 mm | 30-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Madagascar | Oceania (New Zealand) |
| Conservation | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
Malagasy Walking Stick
A large, wingless stick insect with a robust green body covered in small tubercles and spiny projections. Females can reach over 20 cm in length.
Did You Know?
Its species name 'impennis' means wingless, distinguishing it from relatives that have retained at least vestigial wing buds.
Peppered Moth of New Zealand
An endemic New Zealand geometrid moth known as the kawakawa looper, whose caterpillars feed on kawakawa and other native plants. The caterpillars are expert twig mimics, holding themselves rigid at an angle from the branch. Adults have speckled grey wings.
Did You Know?
The kawakawa looper caterpillar is such an effective twig mimic that it can be almost impossible to detect on a branch, even when you know it is there.