Phobaeticus serratipes - that's one big bug!

Kingdom:  Animalia

Phylum Arthropoda

Class:  Insecta

Order:  Phasmatodea

Family:  Phasmatidae

Genus:  Phobaeticus

Species:  serratipes

Phobaeticus serratipes (formerly known as Pharnacia serratipes)  is one species of stick insects.  It is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia.  And it is one big bug! (although technically, it is not a bug, but I can’t help myself!)

At one time, Phobaeticus serratipes was known as the longest insect in the world, with one female being recorded at 555mm (with legs fully extended).  However, specimens of Phobaeticus chani and Phobaeticus kirbyi have now been recorded as longer.

This insect likes warm and humid weather.  It is nocturnal, and lies still during the day, using its body shape as camouflage. It takes 4-5 months for their eggs to hatch.  Females are commonly green or brown.  Males are much shorter than females, and have a blue and black stripe along the sides of the thorax.  The males have wings but cannot fly.

Phobaeticus serratipes are plant eaters, feeding on leaves and berries.  It has the unusual ability of partial regeneration, where if a leg is lost, it will grow back after several successful molts.

Phobaeticus serratipes is a popular species that is raised in captivity, with a lot of on-line discussion and exchange going on.   But it’s IUCN threat status is not evaluated. 

If you see a stick insect in the wild, admire it but do not disturb it.  Let’s hope that this beautiful insect is thriving in the wild, including the Park!

Sources of info:

www.phasmidsincyberspace.com

wikipedia.org

and the Selangor Forestry Department

Sites in the Park Ranked as Top Hiking Destinations!

The STAR sent out mass e-mails to nature buffs and eco-tour guides to determine the top spots for hiking, biking, paddling and climbing in Malaysia.  And proudly, at least 2 sites within the Park are the top hiking spots in Selangor!  (read the article )

The Klang Gates Quartz Ridge topped the list for both the best hiking spot in the Klang Valley (particularly the western section, known as Bukit Tabur) and for the best mountain biking spot (the trails along the foot slopes at the eastern section, around Kemensah).

Gunung Nuang, the highest mountain in Selangor, was also rated top hiking spot in the Klang Valley, especially as a training ground for tougher hikes like Mt. Kinabalu.

Both locations are very popular with outdoor enthusiasts, and both offer exciting challenges while enjoying nature's beauty.  Sadly, these areas in particular are under a lot of pressure from human activities and development, so we've got to act to protect them as much as we enjoy them.

So it's time to leave the shopping malls behind, and get out and enjoy the beauty of Taman Negeri Selangor!

We’ve Got to Do Our Part – Rethink, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

Yet another worrying article in the newspapers, this time, it’s on  solid waste

According to the government, Malaysians are already throwing nearly 27,000 tonnes of rubbish every day.  And it is expected that we will reach 30,000 tonnes per day well before 2020!  Nearly all of this waste is going to landfills.  But out of the 166 landfills in the country, only EIGHT are sanitary landfills!

No one wants to live near a landfill.  So of course the government must look for sites that are away from residential areas…and that can mean the forest and other natural areas.

The quality of our lives depends on our natural resources, and in Selangor, particularly those found in Taman Negeri Selangor.  Our consumption of goods and our lifestyle overall have an impact on the Park and forests in general.

Taman Negeri Selangor is located immediately eastward from the country’s largest urban complex.  The Forestry Department cannot manage the Park sustainably without the cooperation of the residents of Selangor and beyond.

It is we, the people, who will ultimately influence the Park’s proper management and conservation.  To play our part in conserving the Park and protecting the environment overall, we should remember these simple steps and apply to our daily habits:

1. Rethink how we live and how it affects the environment:

• When we buy an item, think about where it comes from and where it will go to once we finish with it.
• Think about the company that makes the item and ask if they have a good environmental track record

2.  Reduce our consumption of resources:

• By conserving water and energy, we reduce the need to build more dams, which flood our forests and destroy habitats and communities.
•  By reducing what we throw away, we use fewer materials and save land from becoming landfills.
•  By trying to reduce our dependency on cars, we reduce the need to construct more and more highways, which often cut through the forest and disrupt communities.

3.  Re-use and recycle as much as possible

• Re-using and recycling materials such as plastic bottles and paper reduces the need for raw materials, which come from natural resources such as trees.

There are lots of places to get more info.  To get started, you can visit the  TrEES website  for a list of recycling centres in the Klang Valley.  To learn more about how to compost at home, and to learn about home cleaning alternatives, click here .  

Let's all do our part!