Giant Stick Insect

A large stick insect (Ctenomorpha chronus) I found in the bananas has proven to be a female. Males are fully winged and can fly, while females are much larger with reduced wings. The wings are small and black with green leading edge. The female lays eggs about 3mm long and look like plant seeds. The eggs drop to the forest floor during summer and hatch the same year. Really quite a fasinating creature and I'm pleased about finding one!! The only one i've seen in my 8 weeks on the plantation.