Lord Howe Island Phasmid

Today, before we left Lord Howe to fly home, we attended an Open Day at the school. What a delightful time we enjoyed and, as a bonus, a young student showed us a Phasmid which the students look after in a glass enclosure. It was given to them by Melbourne Zoo who are undertaking a breeding program. It is understood that rats wiped out the original insects on the island so once these are controlled the insects will be able to be released back into the wild. :)

According to Wikipedia, "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 1930, only to be rediscovered in 2001. 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.

Well we are home now after a most enjoyable week away. Hope tomorrow to catch up on your images and comments. Something to look forward to! Cheers everyone.