Acanthoxyla prasina
In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%
Acanthoxyla prasina, commonly known as the prickly stick insect, is a stick insect species in the order Phasmatodea and family Phasmatidae. It is native to New Zealand, where it occurs throughout the country, although it is less frequently observed than the more common stick insect species. The species has also been introduced to Britain, especially in Cornwall and Devon, and to the south-west of the Republic of Ireland. Its thorn-covered body provides effective camouflage among foliage.
Adult Acanthoxyla prasina are relatively large, ranging from 7.5 to 11 cm in body length. They tend to be broader than other New Zealand stick insects and occur in green or brown-coloured forms. Eight subspecies have been described, some of which bear prominent dark spines on the thorax and abdomen. The species shows variation in the number and size of its characteristic spines, including a distinctive projection beneath the abdomen at the base of the subgenital plate. Black-tipped spines occur across the head, thorax, abdomen and femora. The antennae are typically slightly longer than the fore femora, and the terminal segment of the abdomen is shorter and more rounded than in related... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Egmont National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Prickly Stick Insect sighting in Abel Tasman National Park on a given day, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 7th most-seen of the 64 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Prickly Stick Insect in Abel Tasman National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April–May and July–October, the lowest months.
Between 9 pm and midnight
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Prickly Stick Insect sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
Among the best
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Prickly Stick Insect sightings, Abel Tasman National Park ranks 2nd at about 20%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Rakiura National Park (New Zealand, about 20%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Prickly Stick Insect is recorded against all the insects logged in Abel Tasman National Park (20 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
