15 Incredible Insects From Around The World

Eurycnema goliath the Goliath stick insect is one of Australia's biggest stick insects. The Goliath stick insect is a robust, bright green phasmid with yellow patches on the head, legs and thorax. Their bodies can reach up to 25cm in length. The Goliath has two pairs of bright green wings with red markings underneath. The female Goliath is probably our heaviest stick insect in Australia. Goliath stick insects can be found throughout Northern Australia, into New South Wales and Victoria and also in Western Australia. The name Goliath comes from the warrior giant that battled against David in the Bible. The word goliath means colossal, powerful or giant. Lots of large animals are therefore named Goliath such as the Goliath Stick Insect, Goliath Beetle, Goliath Heron and the Goliath Frog. Female Goliath stick insects can lay eggs even if they haven't mated with a male. This process is called parthenogenesis and is a form of cloning. Even though the females can't fly, their wings can act like parachutes if they fall out of a tree. They fill with air so the Goliath can float down to the ground without getting hurt.