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Within Lazarus Taxa

The Insect That Needed DNA to Return

The Lord Howe Island stick insect shows why rediscovery claims get stronger when modern DNA can test old specimens against new finds.

On this page

  • Rats, disappearance and Ball's Pyramid
  • Why the rediscovered insects looked different
  • How museum genomics strengthened the identification
Preview for The Insect That Needed DNA to Return

Introduction

The Lord Howe Island stick insect is one of the strongest examples of a Lazarus taxon becoming more credible through modern genetics. Thought extinct after invasive rats devastated its native island in the early twentieth century, the insect appeared to survive in a tiny refuge on Ball’s Pyramid, a steep volcanic sea stack in the Tasman Sea. The rediscovery itself was remarkable, but an important question remained: were the insects found on Ball’s Pyramid really the same species that had vanished from Lord Howe Island, or a different but related insect? Modern DNA analysis of museum specimens finally provided the answer. By comparing genetic material from historical collections with living insects, researchers confirmed that the Ball’s Pyramid population was indeed the surviving Lord Howe Island stick insect, turning a dramatic rediscovery into a scientifically verified survival story.[ResearchGate+2csiro.au]researchgate.net2017) found minimal genetic differentiation (< 1%) between specimens of the stick insect Dryococelus australis from Ball's…Read more…Stick Insect illustration 1

Rats, Disappearance and Ball’s Pyramid

Museum Lecture: The true life adventure story of Lord Howe Island Stick Insect

Channel: Museums Victoria

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Why the Rediscovered Insects Looked Different

One reason DNA evidence became so important was that the Ball’s Pyramid insects did not perfectly match historical descriptions from Lord Howe Island.

Researchers noted that the rediscovered insects appeared stockier than museum specimens from the original population. Males also possessed more prominent leg spines. Such differences raised a legitimate possibility that the Ball’s Pyramid insects represented a separate species that had simply been mistaken for the supposedly extinct Lord Howe Island stick insect.[WIRED]wired.comThe Triumphant Return of the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect5 Oct 2017 — The Ball's Pyramid bugs were considerably stockier than ones…

Morphological differences alone can be difficult to interpret. Isolated populations often change in appearance because of environmental pressures, genetic drift, founder effects, or adaptation to unusual habitats. Ball’s Pyramid is an extreme environment compared with the forests of Lord Howe Island, and a population surviving there for many generations might be expected to diverge in body form without becoming a separate species.[WIRED]wired.comwelcome back lord howe island stick insectThought extinct since invasive rats devastated their population on Lord Howe Island in 1918, the insects’ rediscovery raised questions ab…

For cryptozoology and rediscovery claims more broadly, this is a recurring problem. Eyewitness observations or visual similarities can suggest an identification, but unusual appearance often fuels doubt. The Lord Howe case shows why physical resemblance alone is not always enough to settle the issue.Stick Insect illustration 2

How Museum Genomics Strengthened the Identification

The Island That Hid an 'Extinct' Insect… Ball’s Pyramid

Channel: Geomargin

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Why This Case Matters for Rediscovery Claims

Many alleged rediscoveries begin with circumstantial evidence: unusual sightings, isolated populations, or specimens that resemble a supposedly extinct animal. The Lord Howe Island stick insect demonstrates how those claims become substantially stronger when historical material exists for direct comparison.

Several features make this case especially important:<div class="content-enhancement content-enhancement--comparison" markdown="1">

  • The extinct population was represented by preserved museum specimens.
  • A living population was discovered in a plausible refuge.
  • Researchers could compare historical and modern DNA directly.
  • Genetic results agreed with earlier morphological assessments despite visible differences.
  • The conclusion was strong enough to guide conservation planning and reintroduction efforts.[ResearchGate+2ResearchGate]researchgate.netResearchGate(PDF) The recovery programme for the Lord Howe Island…24 Jan 2026 — Recent genetic studies confirmed that the stick insect…</div>

The case therefore serves as a model for evidence-based rediscovery. The rediscovery itself was exciting, but the crucial step was independent genetic confirmation.Stick Insect illustration 3

The Insect That Needed DNA to Return

Lord Howe Island Stick Insect Conservation Breeding Program turns 20

Channel: Zoos Victoria

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        See on Amazon</a></div></div></article><article class="fr-book-card"><a class="fr-book-cover" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Tangled+Tree+by+David+Quammen&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer" aria-label="Open The Tangled Tree on Amazon"><span class="fr-book-cover-fallback">Book</span><img class="fr-book-cover-thumb" src="https://books.google.com/books/content?id=WnlJDwAAQBAJ&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;img=1&amp;zoom=1&amp;edge=curl&amp;source=gbs_api" alt="Cover for The Tangled Tree" loading="lazy" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" onerror="this.hidden=true;this.closest('.fr-book-cover').classList.add('fr-book-cover-placeholder');"></a><div class="fr-book-info"><h4 class="fr-book-title"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Tangled+Tree+by+David+Quammen&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer" title="The Tangled Tree">The Tangled Tree</a></h4><p class="fr-book-author">By David Quammen</p><p class="fr-book-desc">Explains modern genetic methods relevant to species identification.</p><div class="fr-book-actions"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Tangled+Tree+by+David+Quammen&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" class="fr-amazon-btn" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer">
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        See on Amazon</a></div></div></article><article class="fr-book-card"><a class="fr-book-cover" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Song+Of+The+Dodo+by+David+Quammen&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer" aria-label="Open The Song Of The Dodo on Amazon"><span class="fr-book-cover-fallback">Book</span><img class="fr-book-cover-thumb" src="https://books.google.com/books/content?id=53kuEeItYtIC&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;img=1&amp;zoom=1&amp;edge=curl&amp;source=gbs_api" alt="Cover for The Song Of The Dodo" loading="lazy" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" onerror="this.hidden=true;this.closest('.fr-book-cover').classList.add('fr-book-cover-placeholder');"></a><div class="fr-book-info"><h4 class="fr-book-title"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Song+Of+The+Dodo+by+David+Quammen&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer" title="The Song Of The Dodo">The Song Of The Dodo</a></h4><p class="fr-book-author">By David Quammen</p><p class="fr-book-desc">Island survival and refuge ecology mirror the Lord Howe story.</p><div class="fr-book-actions"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Song+Of+The+Dodo+by+David+Quammen&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" class="fr-amazon-btn" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer">
        See on Amazon</a></div></div></article></div><div class="fr-section-footer"><div class="fr-browse-links" aria-label="Browse more on Amazon"><span class="fr-browse-links-label">Browse more on Amazon:</span><a class="fr-browse-more" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Lost+Species&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer">The Lost Species</a><a class="fr-browse-more" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Tangled+Tree&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer">The Tangled Tree</a><a class="fr-browse-more" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=She+Has+Her+Mother%27s+Laugh&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer">She Has Her Mother&#x27;s Laugh</a></div><p class="fr-disclosure">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.</p></div></div></section>

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Endnotes

1. Source: researchgate.net
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320329030_Museum_Genomics_Confirms_that_the_Lord_Howe_Island_Stick_Insect_Survived_Extinction

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>(2017) found minimal genetic differentiation (< 1%) between specimens of the stick insect Dryococelus australis from Ball's…Read more…</p>

2. Source: csiro.au
Title: lord howe island stick insect lives
Link:https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/Articles/2017/October/lord-howe-island-stick-insect-lives

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>DNA tests confirm Lord Howe Island stick insect lives6 Oct 2017 — “To check whether they are the same species or not, we sequenced mitoch…</p>

3. Source: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Link:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10268593/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>by OP Stuart · 2023 · Cited by 8 — In 2001, a population was discovered on Ball's Pyramid (BP), a sea… found a captive breeding pro…</p>

4. Source: researchgate.net
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226062899Rediscovery_of_the%27extinct%27_Lord_Howe_Island_stick-insect_Dryococelus_australis_Montrouzier_Phasmatodea_and_recommendations_for_its_conservation

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>australis on Balls Pyramid are identified and several management actions are proposed to ensure the conservation of…Read more…</p>

5. Source: wired.com
Link:https://www.wired.com/story/welcome-back-lord-howe-island-stick-insect/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>The Triumphant Return of the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect5 Oct 2017 — The Ball's Pyramid bugs were considerably stockier than ones…</p>

7. Source: cell.com
Link:https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822%2817%2931098-9

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>However, there are significant…Read more…</p>

8. Source: researchgate.net
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230017970_The_recovery_programme_for_the_Lord_Howe_Island_Phasmid_Dryococelus_australis_following_its_rediscovery

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>ResearchGate(PDF) The recovery programme for the Lord Howe Island…24 Jan 2026 — Recent genetic studies confirmed that the stick insect…</p>

9. Source: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Link:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28988864/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Museum Genomics Confirms that the Lord Howe Island…by AS Mikheyev · 2017 · Cited by 68 — The Lord Howe Island stick insect, Dryo…</p>

10. Source: iucnredlist.org
Link:https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/pdf/21426226

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>IUCN Red ListDryococelus australis, Lord Howe Island Stick-insect28 Mar 2017 — The Lord Howe Island Stick-insect (Dryococelus australis)…</p>

11. Source: lhimuseum.com
Link:https://lhimuseum.com/learn/phasmids/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Lord Howe Island MuseumPhasmidsAfter 1930, no stick insects could be found. However, in 1964, a team of climbers visiting Ball's Pyramid…</p>

12. Source: zoo.org.au
Title: lord howe island stick insect
Link:https://www.zoo.org.au/fighting-extinction/local-threatened-species/lord-howe-island-stick-insect/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>s VictoriaLord Howe Island Stick InsectOnce considered extinct, the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect was rediscovered in 2001 on Ball's P…</p>

13. Source: Wikipedia
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryococelus

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>DryococelusAlthough it had been extirpated from Lord Howe itself, a remnant population of 24 individuals was rediscovered on the sea s…</p>

14. Source: Wikipedia
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>LordLord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler…</p>

15. Source: dictionary.cambridge.org
Link:https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/lord

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>English meaning - Cambridge DictionaryLORD definition: 1. a male peer 2. a man who has a lot of power in a particular area of activity…</p>

Additional References

16. Source: merriam-webster.com
Link:https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lord

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>LORD Definition & Meaning5 days ago — 1. One having power and authority over others: a: a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to wh…</p>

17. Source: theguardian.com
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/05/giant-stick-insects-found-on-lord-howe-island-a-genetic-match-for-extinct-phasmids

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Giant stick insects found on Lord Howe Island a genetic…5 Oct 2017 — Scientists confirm creatures discovered on Ball's Pyramid in 2001…</p>

18. Source: sciencealert.com
Title: the lord howe island stick insect once declared extinct lives again
Link:https://www.sciencealert.com/the-lord-howe-island-stick-insect-once-declared-extinct-lives-again

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Elusive 'Tree Lobster' Insect Was Just Officially Brought…8 Oct 2017 — The Australian Lord Howe Island stick insect, thought to have b…</p>

19. Source: en.wiktionary.org
Link:https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lord

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>wiktionary.orglordSearch. lord. Entry · Discussion. Language; Loading… Download PDF; Watch · Edit. See also: Lord and LORD.Read more…</p>

20. Source: frederic-38110.medium.com
Title: the return of the stick insect 890ff34d1360
Link:https://frederic-38110.medium.com/the-return-of-the-stick-insect-890ff34d1360

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Return of the Stick Insect - The Friedel Chronicles - MediumIn 1960, climbers on another nearby volcanic rock island, Ball's Pyramid, fou…</p>

21. Source: abc.net.au
Title: lord howe island stick insect discovery balls pyramid
Link:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-15/lord-howe-island-stick-insect-discovery-balls-pyramid/106381564

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Seven were captured for breeding purposes. The latest discovery of the insect, scientifically…Read more…</p>

22. Source: zoopraha.cz
Title: 15327 breeding programme
Link:https://www.zoopraha.cz/en/pyramid/15327-breeding-programme

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Breeding programmeAfter the discovery of the live Lord Howe Island stick insects on Ball's Pyramid in 2001, it was decided to establish a…</p>

23. Source: vi.glosbe.com
Title: comlord trong Tiếng Việt, dịch, Tiếng Anh
Link:https://vi.glosbe.com/en/vi/lord

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Câu dịch mẫu: Their testimony is vital in the Lord's work of salvation. ↔ Chứng ngôn…Read more…</p>

24. Source: youtube.com
Title: Museum Lecture: The true life adventure story of Lord Howe Island Stick Insect
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIy4mA2yVuY

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>The Island That Hid an 'Extinct' Insect… Ball's Pyramid…</p>

25. Source: therevelator.org
Title: species spotlight lord howe
Link:https://therevelator.org/species-spotlight-lord-howe/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>But there were rumors that the big, black bug was present on Ball's Pyramid, a tiny, sheer…Read more…</p>

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Lazarus Taxa When Extinct Animals Reappear Alive

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