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Lord Howe Island Phasmid (Dryococelus australis)

The Lord Howe Island Phasmid is a giant stick insect now known in the wild from Balls Pyramid, south-east of Lord Howe Island. On Balls Pyramid, it relies on Melaleuca shrubs for feeding, rock crevices for daytime protection and suitable substrate beneath the shrubs for eggs to fall and hatch.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Critically endangered.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Critically endangered.

Seasonal planning

The Australian Museum survey was conducted in March at Ball’s Pyramid to minimise disruption to nesting seabirds.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Survey timing: The Australian Museum survey was conducted in March at Ball’s Pyramid to minimise disruption to nesting seabirds.

Identification: Appearance

Adults can reach 20 cm long and have an oblong body and sturdy legs. They are described as golden honey brown with a white stripe along the side.

Adults can reach 20 cm long and have an oblong body and sturdy legs. They are described as golden honey brown with a white stripe along the side.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species is endemic to Australia and is currently known in the wild only from Balls Pyramid, about 23 km south-east of Lord Howe Island. It was formerly found on Lord Howe Island but is now considered extinct there.

The species is endemic to Australia and is currently known in the wild only from Balls Pyramid, about 23 km south-east of Lord Howe Island. It was formerly found on Lord Howe Island but is now considered extinct there.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

On Balls Pyramid, the phasmid has been found in a moist site with Melaleuca howeana shrubs, accumulated organic matter and nearby rock crevices. Its former habitat on Lord Howe Island was moist forest, where it used hollows in living trees.

On Balls Pyramid, the phasmid has been found in a moist site with Melaleuca howeana shrubs, accumulated organic matter and nearby rock crevices. Its former habitat on Lord Howe Island was moist forest, where it used hollows in living trees.

Foraging habitat: Diet

On Balls Pyramid, adults feed on Melaleuca shrubs, with Melaleuca howeana identified as the likely host plant at the known site.

On Balls Pyramid, adults feed on Melaleuca shrubs, with Melaleuca howeana identified as the likely host plant at the known site.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Eggs may take up to nine months to hatch. The species is also bred in captivity.

Eggs may take up to nine months to hatch. The species is also bred in captivity.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

On Balls Pyramid, adults use rock crevices for protection during the day. On Lord Howe Island, the species was associated with hollows in living trees.

On Balls Pyramid, adults use rock crevices for protection during the day. On Lord Howe Island, the species was associated with hollows in living trees.

Threats: Threats

The introduction of rats in 1918 was followed by the phasmid’s loss from Lord Howe Island. Its remaining wild habitat on Balls Pyramid is highly restricted and described as precarious and probably sub-optimal.

The introduction of rats in 1918 was followed by the phasmid’s loss from Lord Howe Island. Its remaining wild habitat on Balls Pyramid is highly restricted and described as precarious and probably sub-optimal.

Threats: Works risk

Works that remove or damage Melaleuca shrubs, rock crevices, or suitable substrate beneath feeding shrubs could affect the food, daytime shelter or egg-hatching habitat the phasmid requires. Its known wild range is extremely restricted, so disturbance at the occupied site could affect a very limited area of habitat.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

Daytime searches for droppings (frass) have been used to locate the phasmid, followed by night searches because the animals are nocturnal. A two-day survey of Balls Pyramid also recorded individuals on a Melaleuca shrub.

Survey methodology: 2. Commonwealth guidance

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 3. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Melaleuca or paperbark

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

On Balls Pyramid, the phasmid has been found in a moist site with Melaleuca howeana shrubs, accumulated organic matter and nearby rock crevices.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: NSW.

Habitat use: general

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources