The rarest insect on Earth resides on an uninhabited pillar in the Pacific Ocean. Who is it? (Watch the video)

Our planet is home to an incredible number of species, but the rarest and most endangered animals often hide in the most remote corners of the globe. Scientists may need to traverse jungles or navigate through dense vegetation to study their habitats. The situation is further complicated by the fact that some species can only be found in a single region on Earth, as reported by IFLScience.

A striking example is the rarest insect in the world, which resides on a small uninhabited pillar in the Pacific Ocean. This refers to the tree lobster, also known as the Lord Howe Island phasmid (Dryococelus australis). These creatures have a rather remarkable history and appearance: their bodies are dark, their legs are long, and they can reach lengths of 15-20 centimeters. Overall, researchers note that tree lobsters look quite prehistoric. They also belong to the order Phasmatodea, which includes stick insects often referred to as phasmids.

This species was originally discovered only on Lord Howe Island, located between Australia and New Zealand in the Tasman Sea. However, a shipwreck in 1918 led to the island being overrun by black rats, resulting in an ecological disaster.

Researchers found that the rats caused significant problems for local species, including the tree lobsters, which were believed to have been completely wiped out by 1920. They belong to the order Phasmatodea, which includes stick insects often referred to as phasmids.

Fortunately, in the 1950s, reports emerged that climbers had discovered shed skins of tree lobsters on Ball's Pyramid—a small uninhabited vertical volcanic outcrop located 23 kilometers from Lord Howe Island. It is worth noting that this pillar in the Pacific Ocean is also considered the tallest sea stack in the world.

According to Kate Pearce, the invertebrate natural sciences manager at Melbourne Zoo, these insects did not actually resemble the originals from Lord Howe Island. They had shorter legs and a darker coloration. It is suggested that these individuals were brought from Lord Howe Island by birds, although scientists may have discovered an entirely new species.

Due to this confusion, the species was officially declared extinct in 1986, but in 2001, scientists conducted a new study. The team discovered three individuals living on a tea tree on Ball's Pyramid at an elevation of 64 meters above sea level. This discovery led to a captive breeding program for four insects collected in 2003. DNA testing confirmed that these were the long-lost tree lobsters. One pair was named Adam and Eve and sent to Melbourne Zoo to initiate a breeding program.

Ultimately, the confusion surrounding the species was resolved—in an article published in 2017, it was confirmed that mitochondrial genome samples from Ball's Pyramid and samples from the Lord Howe Island museum differed by less than 1 percent and "that D. australis has successfully avoided extinction so far."

Researchers note that as of 2022, thanks to the species recovery program at Melbourne Zoo, approximately 19,000 insects have been bred.