Lord Howe Island got rid of its rats and mice – now cockroaches and bugs are bouncing back

Rodents arrived on the subtropical island more than a century ago, decimating its native flora and fauna – but its invertebrates are once again booming

In the summer months, Lord Howe Island’s unique stag beetle, with wing cases that appear forged from iridescent green metal, fly around the ancient tree tops looking for a mate.

“That’s really something wonderful,” said Ian Hutton, a naturalist and nature guide on the World Heritage-listed island.