Winged Stick Insect vs Zhao Stick Insect

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Winged Stick Insect Zhao Stick Insect
Scientific Name Megacrania batesii Phryganistria chinensis
Order Phasmatodea Phasmatodea
Family Phasmatidae Phasmatidae
Size 100-140mm 357 mm body (640 mm with legs)
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Mountains
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Oceania Asia
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Winged Stick Insect

A large bright green stick insect with well-developed wings that can fly short distances. It feeds on pandanus palms along tropical coastlines. When threatened it sprays a peppermint-scented defensive chemical.

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Did You Know?

It sprays a liquid that smells exactly like peppermint oil from glands in its thorax when threatened.

Zhao Stick Insect

The longest insect ever measured at 64 cm with legs extended. Discovered in 2014 in Guangxi, China. A captive-bred specimen set the world record in 2017.

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Did You Know?

This stick insect was so elusive that entomologist Zhao Li spent six years searching for it after hearing reports from local villagers before finally spotting one at night.