Thursday 7 January 2016
2007
MEDIA RELEASE
World first captive breeding program of Rare Giant Stick Insect
succeeds at Museum Victoria
Lady Gaga (Ctenomorpha gargantua) – AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST STICK INSECT – will have
grandchildren!
Museum Victoria is excited to announce a
world first success: the first generation of
captive-bred Ctenomorpha gargantua
(Australia’s – and possibly the world’s –
largest stick insect) have been reared to
adulthood at Melbourne Museum and
have just laid eggs of their own.
Pictured: the daughter of Lady Gaga Credit: Museum Victoria
This is the first time in the world that a
member of this elusive species has been
successfully reared to adulthood in
captivity and has laid their own eggs. This
means that Museum Victoria is the first
and only institution worldwide to have
a breeding colony of this species, an
important step to securing the species’
survival, of which only three females have
ever been found in the wild.
The current breed of Ctenomorpha gargantua at Melbourne Museum were hatched from the eggs of the
largest stick insect ever discovered in Australia (nicknamed by her keepers Lady Gaga-ntuan, or Lady Gaga
for short!) who measured 50.0cm in total length. Lady Gaga was discovered near Cairns in January 2014;
her record as Australia’s largest stick insect however has now been broken by one of her female
children who is 56.5cm in total length.
As the first ever adult female to become part of a breeding program, Museum Victoria’s Live Exhibits team
were dedicated to ensuring that Lady Gaga’s eggs, laid at Melbourne Museum shortly after she arrived, were
hatched and then reared to adulthood.
This painstaking and laborious process was undertaken by Museum Victoria’s Maik Fiedel, Coordinator,
Live Exhibits. Maik made the initial discovery of Lady Gaga and has carefully shepherded her young through
from hatching, the troubled teenage years, to adulthood.
Maik even needed to rear the nymphs from home during difficult times as they required ‘around the clock’
monitoring to ensure their continued health and vitality.
As Maik says, “It’s great to see these incredible creatures finally mature to the point where they are laying
their own eggs. It’s been a tough journey over the last 18 months so we’re really excited to see what happens
next.”
On the importance of the breeding program, Patrick Honan, Manager of Live Exhibits says:
“Gargantuan stick insects live high in the canopy, are very well camouflaged and highly sedentary so it’s no
surprise so few have ever been found. For a species that’s so rarely seen, it’s wonderful to have even a few
live specimens in captivity. Research into captive breeding is essential for the long-term security of many
species, and having them on display enables everyone to appreciate the amazing creatures we have in our
world.”
About Live Exhibits
The Live Exhibits unit of Museum Victoria create living galleries and interpretive collections to provide
enriching experiences through interactions with live animals and plants. As experts in their field, this captive
breeding program of such a rare creature is an example of some of the best small animal husbandry in
Australia.
This is a world first conservation success story from right here at Melbourne Museum!
Members of the public are invited to view Ctenomorpha gargantua which is now on temporary display for a
limited time at Melbourne Museum’s Discovery Centre.
Interviews and images with Maik Fiedel, Coordinator, Live Exhibits and Patrick Honan, Manager, Live
Exhibits Museum Victoria are available.
Video footage of the extraordinary Ctenomorpha gargantua is also available.
To discuss a media interview or opportunity please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Maria O’Dwyer, Senior Advisor, External Relations, Museum Victoria
P: +61 3 8341 7366 / M: 0466 567 306 / E: modwyer@museum.vic.gov.au
Anna Quinn, Communications Officer, External Relations, Museum Victoria
P: (03) 8341 7136 / M: 0437 565 300 / E: aquinn@museum.vic.gov.au