Polyzosteria yingina

After 79 years Tasmania's only known species of Polyzosteria cockroach was named just this year. ÔPolyzosteria yinginaÕ. ÔyinginaÕ in palawa kani translates as ÔGreat LakeÕ, which is appropriate because this insect lives among inland sand-dunes and lake-shores on the Central Plateau. Beyond this stronghold, this flightless species is also found on East-Coast beaches, but as yet has never been found in between. It is suspected that they raft down rivers from the highlands to the lowlands during floods.This photograph was taken in the UTAS entomology lab and comprises of 55 focus stacked images. Thanks to Shasta Henry for introducing me to this beauty and for finally giving it a name.