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Heteropteryx dilatata (Parkinson, 1798)
| Family Name: | Bacillidae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Invertebrates (Stick Insect) |
| Common Name: | Malayan Giant Nymph |
Name
Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | Very rare and seldom seen, requiring a humid forest environment. The eggs of teh Malayan Giant Nymph and Mueller's Spiny Insect take up to nine months to hatch, and unfertilised ones may require twice as long. These eggs are generally buried in soil and so they are very slow breeders. Slow reproduction rates meant that these insects are very sensitive to forest disturbance and habitat destruction. |
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| Habitats | Forest, Terrestrial |
| Distribution | Occurs in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Borneo. This large impressive species was thought to be extinct in Singapore but an adult male has recently been photographed at MacRitchie reservoir and so the species must still be extant in Singapore, albeit rare. |
| Nature Reserves | Central Catchment Nature Reserve |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | Habitat and food plant destruction are the most important threats. Monkeys seldom take the large insects as they are well able to protect themselves by spiking their predators. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | The Malayan Giant Nymph had been kept for its droppings. These were used to make tea that was said to be useful for a variety of ailments and as an aphrodisiac. |
| Conservation Notes | Increased public awareness is required. As these insects are very seldom seen in the wild, this may be possible only throughout insect observatories and cultures. The one known locality is protected within the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. |
Status
| Species Status | Native |
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| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Endangered (EN) [2008] |
Photos
References
| References | Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp |
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