The Highlands Giant: Australia’s Heaviest Insect Unearthed

An extraordinary new species—Acrifila alta—has researchers buzzing. Described in 2025 by Ross Copland and Angus Emmett, it's touted as Australia’s heaviest insect, with individuals up to 44 grams and bodies that can span over 40 centimeters with the legs extended. But the real story is where it lives: a 30–60 meter-high canopy resident in the Atherton Tablelands' high-elevation rainforest, usually above 900 meters, surviving in cooler, damp conditions. The discovery began outside the lab, thanks to citizen scientists using iNaturalist who spotted lower-canopy clues after storms, triggering formal collection of eggs and specimens. The eggs’ unique morphology helped confirm the new species, and the weight-thermoregulation hypothesis offers a tantalizing clue about how life adapts to the canopy’s chill. This discovery underscores the hidden diversity resting above our heads and the vital role of protecting remote canopies. So, what other marvels might still be waiting to be found in the treetops?

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