By ANTHONY HOY
Fancy a hassle-free pet? One that makes no mess, will stay in the same spot, shares all tastes in music (even yours) and will actually get down and boogie to it?
Then this new species of stick insect, discovered recently at Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, could be the pet for you.
At 25 centimetres long and the thickness of an adult's finger, the as-yet-unnamed species of phasmid (stick insect) is a strong contender for the title of Australia's largest insect species.
It was discovered by Ballarat tourist Jane Watt 10 to 15 kilometres south of Tennant Creek.
The find excited Australia's insect experts, among them Steven Felenberg, of Campbelltown, who breeds stick insects and studies them through the Australian Museum Collection, promoting them as a new pet species.
"They pick up the vibration of music, and sway to it - at times lifting their forelegs in time," he said. "Different types of music bring about different responses."
They were also affectionate. "Unlike goldfish, you don't have to clean their bowl out. All they need is a spray of water, and fresh leaves."
Wed, Oct 01, 97