PromotedSpecies introCountry intro
Spur-legged phasmid portrait
One good thing about living next to a forest is that occasionally the fauna that live there make their way to my home - and I don't have to hike to find them!
Such as this spur-legged phasmid that dropped by in February last summer. It spent a fair while on my house wall where I photographed it.
Also commonly known as the violet-winged stick insect, or violet-winged phasma.
This is a male and only he has the spurs on his hind legs that give the common name. Both males and females can have beautiful violet-coloured wings.
One can come across this native species from south to south-eastern Australia, from Tasmania up the east coast through New South Wales and in to southern Queensland.
Male, around 10 cm in length.
The spur legged phasmid, "Didymuria violescens", is a common phasmid in Australia. Males have distinct spurs and thicker hind legs which is where the animal gets its common name, though the spurs are only found on the male.
comments (1)