Phobaeticus serratipes 

Phobaeticus serratipes

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Phasmatidae
Subfamily: Phasmatinae
Tribe: Pharnaciini
Genus: Phobaeticus
Species: P. serratipes
Binomial name
Phobaeticus serratipes
(Gray, 1835)
Synonyms
  • Bacteria acanthopus
    Burmeister, 1838
  • Baculolonga serratipes
    (Gray, 1835)
  • Cladoxerus serratipes
    Gray, 1835
  • Pharnacia serratipes
    (Gray, 1835)
  • Phibalosoma serratipes
    (Gray, 1835)
  • Bactridium grande
    Rehn, 19201

The stick insect Phobaeticus serratipes (formerly known as Pharnacia serratipes) was at one time the longest known insect, with one female specimen recorded as being 555 mm long2 - note, however, that this includes the legs fully extended front and rear, and the actual length of the body alone is considerably shorter. This insect occurs in Malaysia and Singapore.1 It is a popular species among those who raise stick insects.

The record for longest known insect is now held by a specimen of Phobaeticus chani, at 567 mm held in the Natural History Museum in London.3 Phobaeticus serratipes is also slightly shorter in body length than one specimen of Phobaeticus kirbyi.

References

  1. ^ a b "Revision of Oriental Phasmatodea: The tribe Pharnaciini Günther, 1953, including the description of the world's longest insect, and a survey of the family Phasmatidae Gray, 1835 with keys to the subfamilies and tribes (Phasmatodea: "Anareolatae": Phasmatidae)" (in English). Zootaxa (Auckland, New Zealand: Magnolia Press) 1906: 1-316 pp. Oct 2008. ISSN 1175-5326, http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/z01906p316f.pdf. Retrieved on 16 October 2008. 
  2. ^ Seow-Choen, F. (1995). The longest insect in the world. Malayan Nat. 48: 12.
  3. ^ "World's longest insect revealed". Natural History Museum (2008-10-16). Retrieved on 2008-10-16.

External links

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