The Lord Howe Island stick insect (*Dryococelus australis*) did not become globally extinct: a small population survived on nearby Balls Pyramid, a steep volcanic outcrop 23 km southeast of Lord Howe Island. After black rats arrived on the island in 1918, the insect vanished from Lord Howe; its rediscovery in 2001 led to captive breeding, but a return to the island is not confirmed by the sources cited here.
What happened to the Lord Howe Island stick insect?
The stick insect was once abundant on Lord Howe Island. Black rats arrived after the supply ship S.S. Makambo ran aground in 1918, and the rats drove a catastrophic decline in the insect. The Australian government’s 2021 assessment estimated a historical decline of at least 99% since 1918; this is an assessment of past decline, not a present-day population count. Australian government assessment (2021)
The NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee records 1920 as the last reported sighting on Lord Howe Island. By 1935, the insect was considered “rare, if not extinct.” Those dates describe its disappearance from Lord Howe, not the extinction of the species worldwide. NSW determination (2012)
How was it rediscovered?
Dead specimens had been found on Balls Pyramid in the 1960s, but live insects were not confirmed there until February 2001. The Australian government assessment recounts that scientists found three live insects and two eggs at a single bush. Based on the signs at the site, it estimated that the local population was unlikely to exceed ten then; that estimate is not a current count. Australian government assessment (2021)
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The Australian Museum says researchers climbed the outcrop at night because the insects are nocturnal. A return visit in 2002 found 24 more at the same spot. Balls Pyramid is close to Lord Howe Island in distance but exceptionally difficult to survey: its steep cliffs and limited patches of suitable habitat made the search demanding, not literally impossible. Australian Museum explainer (2018)
Why is Balls Pyramid such a difficult refuge?
Balls Pyramid is a near-vertical volcanic remnant 23 km southeast of Lord Howe Island. The Australian Museum describes the ascent as requiring experienced climbers. The government assessment also notes that a small area that might have suitable habitat was too steep to access and survey. In other words, researchers reached the insects, but they could not simply search the whole outcrop as if it were ordinary ground.
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The government’s assessment describes a habitat with several specific needs: Melaleuca shrubs for feeding, rock crevices for daytime shelter, and suitable substrate beneath shrubs for eggs. In its 2021 assessment, the government estimated the insect’s extent of occurrence at less than 0.5 km² and its area of occupancy at less than 0.1 km². These are assessment-era estimates, not current measurements. Australian government assessment (2021)
How did captive breeding help?
In 2003, two pairs were collected from Balls Pyramid to establish a captive breeding population, according to the NSW determination. Captive breeding provides an insurance population and supports conservation planning; it does not by itself show that the species has been restored to Lord Howe Island. NSW determination (2012)
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In 2017, a climbing expedition retrieved an additional female, named Vanessa, for Melbourne Zoo’s breeding program. The Australian Museum reported that she was expected to add needed genetic diversity. Dr Rebecca Johnson, director of the Australian Museum Research Institute, described the effort as “the pinnacle of ‘extreme citizen science’, combining our scientific expertise with the skills of experienced climbers.” Australian Museum report (2017)
Have the insects been returned to Lord Howe Island?
The Australian Government’s 2023 priority invertebrate profile describes ongoing captive breeding and reintroduction as a management consideration. It does not confirm that insects have been released on Lord Howe Island. The sources cited here also do not establish a reliable current count for either the wild or captive population. Australian Government priority invertebrate profile (2023)
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The distinction matters: surviving on a nearby outcrop was a remarkable reprieve, but proximity did not make Lord Howe Island safe. Any return would need to address the original threat and the insect’s habitat needs; the documented breeding program and a confirmed release are separate milestones.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is it really the world’s rarest insect?
The Australian Museum says the species “may be the rarest insect in the world.” That is a qualified description, not a verified global ranking. The stronger, well-supported point is that the species suffered a severe decline, survived in a tiny and difficult-to-survey refuge, and became the focus of a sustained conservation effort. Australian Museum report (2017)
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