Argosarchus horridus

Description

Argosarchus horridus, or the New Zealand bristly stick insect, is a stick insect of the family Phasmatidae, endemic to New Zealand and the only member of its genus. Their body-length, up to 20 cm, is the longest of any New Zealand insect. The females are much larger than the males and have a visibly spiny thorax, the name "horridus" means bristly in Latin. Some populations have only females as the species is a facultative parthenogen. Commonly found on Hoheria species but will eat a variety of other native plants and introduced Rubus species. A distinguishing feature is coxa of the two forelegs is purple or pink.