From near extinction to thriving: ‘World’s rarest insect’ now flourishes in the US by the thousands

The ‘tree lobster,’ also known as the Lord Howe Island stick insect, has made a remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction since its rediscovery on Ball’s Pyramid in 2001.

With only a small population remaining in the wild, the San Diego Zoo has invited visitors to observe these extraordinary Australian insects up close. These stick insects face challenges on Ball’s Pyramid, including extreme weather events and threats to their food source, the Melaleuca howeana plant.

Conservation efforts led by various zoos, including Melbourne, Bristol (now closed), and San Diego Zoos, have been instrumental in saving this critically endangered species. San Diego Zoo aims to raise awareness of the importance of invertebrates in ecological balance by allowing visitors to see these rare insects.

The Lord Howe Island stick insects were once abundant on Lord Howe Island but faced extinction in 1918 due to a rat invasion. Declared extinct in 1986, they were rediscovered on Ball’s Pyramid in 2001. Collaborative breeding programs among zoos have resulted in thriving captive populations. Female stick insects’ ability to clone themselves through parthenogenetic reproduction has contributed to their survival.

Efforts to eliminate rats on Lord Howe Island since 2019, with the help of rat-detecting dogs, have led to a resurgence of unique wildlife and increased biodiversity on the island, signaling a positive ecological shift.