By C. N. Smithers
The large, flightless Lord Howe Island Phasmid
(Dryococelus australis (Montrouzier))
was abundant on the island in 1916
(Lea, 1916).
The introduction of rats in about 1918 is generally thought to have been
responsible for the very rapid decline in numbers of the phasmid.
It was generally considered to be extinct until
McAlpine (1967)
reported on a photograph of a dead specimen taken on Ball's Pyramid.
Mr. J. Smith recently paid a visit to Ball's
Pyramid and made a small collection of insects, amongst which are
incomplete remains of one female and one immature phasmid, collected on
3rd March, 1969.