'World's longest insect discovered in China'

Image
Press Trust of India Beijing
Last Updated : May 05 2016 | 6:32 PM IST
Scientists claim to have discovered the world's longest insect, measuring over 62 centimetres in length, wriggling on a mountain road in south China.
The finding breaks the record for length for all 807,625 insects discovered so far, researchers said.
The previous record holder was a stick insect found in Malaysia in 2008 which measured 56.7 cm and is currently at the Natural History Museum in London.
Zhao Li, from the Insect Museum of West China (IMWC), found the 62.4-cm-long stick insect in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 2014.
The insect has been named Phryganistria chinensis Zhao.
"I was collecting insects on a 1,200-metre-tall mountain in Guangxi's Liuzhou City on the night of August 16, 2014, when a dark shadow appeared in the distance, which looked like a tree twig," Zhao was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency.
"As I went near, I was shocked to find the huge insect's legs were as long as its body," he said.
Zhao took the insect back to the IMWC, and it laid six eggs. After hatching, Zhao found the smallest of the young insects' bodies measured at least 26 cm.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: May 05 2016 | 6:32 PM IST

Next Story