Our brand-new Bug Box is now open!

Discover and learn more about all the different species of bugs we have in our brand-new Bug Box!

Monster Mantid 

Archimantis monstrosa

Monster mantids are one of Australia's longest praying mantids, growing to around 90mm in body length and sometimes even longer.

Like most mantids, females are known to consume the male during the mating process. Usually, when this occurs, the male can still continue to copulate without much of the front half of his body. Although this practice isn't as common in this species as it is in some other mantids, the males sacrifice serves to aid the development of the young he is fathering by providing a nourishing meal to his partner.

 

Detachable Penis Spider

Nephilengys papuana

The unusual name for this spider originates from the quirky behaviour of the tiny male spiders. During mating the males break off a pedipalp (one of their specialised 'feeler' appendages used for mating) and leave it locked into the female. This prevents other male spiders mating with that particular female.

 

 

Flinders Range Scorpion 

Urodacus elongatus 

These are one of Australia's largest and longest living scorpion species!

These slow growing scorpions are sadly, often victims of poaching or collecting, and as such are vulnerable to population decline. 

A fun fact about these guys is that the exoskeleton of scorpions fluoresces bright green under UV light. 

 

Giant Rainforest Snail

Hadra webbi 

Rainforest Snails are molluscs – a type of invertebrate. They do not have a backbone and have a soft body that is called a foot. They also have a hard shell they carry around on their back, which they can retreat into if they are threatened or if their environment is too hot or dry.

This snail feeds on fruiting bodies of fungus on the forest floor and as a result have never been found over 50cm above the ground. 

An amazing fact about many snails (including Rainforest Snails) is that they are hermaphrodites. This means that all individuals are both male and female at the same time. Snails still need to find a mate though, and once mating has occurred, both snails will be able to produce eggs.

 

Green-bellied Huntsman Spider 

Typostola barbata 

Green-bellied Huntsmen are among Australia’s largest spiders, growing up to body length of over 40mm and a leg span of over 150mm. 

They are found from Victoria to North QLD along the coastline where they feed on moths, crickets, and other spiders.

 

Rainforest Centipede 

Ethmostigmus rubripes

These centipedes are known to hunt by either ambush or active hunting. They hunt using two strategies; sitting still and ambushing prey as it wanders by, and actively seeking out prey in nooks and crannies throughout their habitat. Prey is detected using the centipede’s highly sensitive antennae, and once detected is rapidly set upon. The centipede will clasp and secure its prey using its sharp pointed legs, while simultaneously biting it with its venom claws. (Venom claws are the pair of modified legs under the centipede’s head which are utilised as fangs to deliver venom). Large prey will often be secured by the centipede’s entire body. In the wild these centipedes' prey on a wide variety of animals, particularly invertebrates, but will also take small vertebrates such as frogs and geckos.

 

 

Australian Tarantula 

Phlogius sp. 'Sarina' 

Australian tarantulas are often known as whistling or barking spiders because of the sounds most species can produce.

Australian tarantulas rarely eat birds, despite often being called 'bird-eating spiders'. Occasionally, hatchlings may be taken from nests on the ground, however the spiders mainly eat insects, lizards, frogs, and other spiders. 

 

 

St Andrews Cross Spider

Argiope keyserlingi

St Andrew's Cross Spiders are named for their bright web decorations - zig-zag ribbons of bluish-white silk that form a full or partial cross through the centre of the orb web. Females have a silvery carapace and a silver, yellow, red and black banded upper abdomen with two longitudinal yellow stripes below. 

These spiders are found mostly along eastern Australia and enjoy a diet of flies, moths, butterflies and bees. 

 

 

Giant Burrowing Cockroach

Macropanesthia rhinoceros

This is Australia's heaviest cockroach weighing up to 30 grams! 

Unlike most insects, which lay eggs, the female Giant Burrowing Cockroach gives birth to live young. In each clutch there are up to 30 young (nymphs). The female cares for her offspring in her underground chamber, feeding them the leaf litter she gathers at night. 

 

 

Violet-winged Stick Insect

Didymuria violescens

Despite both sexes having violet-coloured wings, it is only the males that are able to fly. 

They are found in eucalypt forest along the east coast. 

 

Net-casting Spider

Deinopis subrufa

These spiders are named after their hunting strategy. They create an elastic, silken net that they hold between their front four legs, and then wait for prey to approach them. 

 

 

Peppermint Stick Insect 

Megacrania batesii

These unique creatures get their name from a peppermint smelling secretion they use in self-defence. 

They feed only on Pandanus sp. found in north QLD. 

 

Red Back Spider

Latrodectus hasselti 

It has been found that in order to occupy the female's attention during mating, the male spider offers her his abdomen by standing on his head and 'somersaulting' his abdomen towards her mouthparts. The female begins to squirt digestive juices onto the male's abdomen while the first palp is inserted. If he is not too weak, he will manage to withdraw, and then insert the second palp. She will continue to 'digest' his abdomen. Most males do not survive this process. 

Redback bites can occur, particularly over the summer months. More than 250 cases receive antivenom each year, with several milder envenomation's probably going unreported. Only the female bite is dangerous. However, since Redback Spiders rarely leave their webs, humans are not likely to be bitten unless a body part such as a hand is put directly into the web, and because of their small jaws many bites are ineffective. The venom acts directly on the nerves, resulting in release and subsequent depletion of neurotransmitters. Common early symptoms are pain (which can become severe), sweating (always including local sweating at bite site), muscular weakness, nausea and vomiting. Antivenom is available. No deaths have occurred since its introduction. Apply an ice pack to the bitten area to relieve pain. Do not apply a pressure bandage (venom movement is slow and pressure worsens pain). Collect the spider for positive identification. Seek medical attention.