Didymuria violescens - our visitor Janet discovered this impressive female stick insect in a low bush. She was probably blown out of the forest canopy in the strong winds. After we collected her to take close-up photographs, she began to drop eggs. We released her, but she will not live for much longer as adults are reported to have only a 2-3 month life span after appearing in late summer.

Here is one of the phasmid’s eggs. She will lay around 200 eggs, which typically hatch in November-December. The nymphs take 2-3 months to develop to the adult stage.