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''Dryococelus australis'', commonly known as the Lord Howe Island stick insect or tree lobster, is a species of stick insect which lives on the Lord Howe Island Group. It was thought to be extinct by 1920, only to be rediscovered in 2001 (this phenomenon is known as the Lazarus effect). It is extinct in its largest habitat, Lord Howe Island, and has been called "the rarest insect in the world", as the rediscovered population consisted of 24 individuals living on the small islet of Ball's Pyramid. == Anatomy and behaviour == Adult Lord Howe Island stick insects can measure up to in length and weigh , with females 25% smaller than males. They are oblong in shape and have sturdy legs. Males have thicker thighs than females. Unlike most phasmids, the insects have no wings, but are able to run quickly. The behaviour of this stick insect is highly unusual for an insect species. The males and females form a bond; the males follow the females and their activities depend on what the female is doing. The females lay eggs while hanging from branches. Hatching can happen up to nine months later. The nymphs are first bright green and active during the day, but as they mature, they turn black and become nocturnal. Reproduction can happen without the presence of males (parthenogenesis) and this facility has allowed the species to survive when they are low in numbers. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dryococelus australis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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