Are you planning a trip to Penang Butterfly Farm?

Its the time of the year when we remember the formation of our beloved country Malaysia. In this Malaysia Day edition, we would like to highlight some ‘little Malaysians’ that has made it into the world records. Lets take some time to appreciate our local champions, shall we?

1. The Longest Stick Insect

Apparently the world’s longest stick insect is a Malaysian species, known as Chan’s Megastick or Phobaeticus chani. One of these megasticks made it all the way to Natural History Museum of London, measuring 22.3 inches (56.7 cm) with its legs all stretched out to the front, like this:

source: fox news

Chan’s Megasticks are found in Sabah, our beautiful “Land Below the Wind” and scientists announced this species to be among the top 10 new species described in 2008.  Thanks for making us proud!

2. The Heaviest Stick Insect

Durians are not the only spiky prickly things in the forest of Malaysia. Meet one of the heaviest stick insect, the Thorny Stick Insect or Heteropteryx dilatata in scientific tongue. Some refer these creatures as the Jungle Nymph. The females of these species are able to weigh around 50-60 grams, which is about the weight of ½ cup of sugar. The females could grow to around 6 inches (15 cm) and they are twice the size of the males. You might wanna think twice before handling these creatures… just look at the spikes!

3. The Largest Leaf Insect

The Leaf Insects, as the name suggest, look exactly like leaves and that is where they usually literally hang out –among the leaves! Malaysia is home to the largest species of leaf insect, known as Phyllium gigantum. Members of this species could grow up to 5 inches long and about 3 inches wide. Apart from looking like leaves, they eat leaves too and not only that, they tend to act like one! When the wind blows, these little actors will sway like how the leaves would. So the next time you hike into Malaysian forest try spotting them if you can. 4. The Largest Cicada

One of the largest cicada (and possibly the loudest or most annoying) comes from Malaysia. We certainly do have many champions, don’t we? The champion’s name is Pomponia imperatorial or the Empress cicada. With their wings spread out, they measure 20cm (wingspan) and their body can be around 3 inches long. They are brown in colour and can be a quite an irritating house visitor as they can be quite hysterical around lights and can be very noisy. Someone should check if they’re the world’s noisiest cicada.

Source: www.agr.gc.ca

These are just a few examples of Malaysian champions of nature. Malaysia is not only diverse in culture and races but also rich in biodiversity. There are so much more to discover and perhaps someday we will receive more surprises when researches find more little champions. may this Malaysia Day will not only remind us the roots of our country but also remember to appreciate how rich our mother nature is.  Happy Malaysia Day!

Have you ever seen this movie before?

He is a ladybug name Francis in A Bug’s Life movie. By looking at him, do you know that he is a male ladybug? In this movie, He always being teased by the other bugs and mistaken for a female. So, this time, we will discuss about this adorable insect – LADY BIRD

Actually, not all ladybirds are “LADIES”. They are both male and female ladybirds. They are not bugs or birds but they belong to the family of beetles. Ladybugs have a variety of colors like yellow, orange, maroon, and scarlet. So, how ladybirds got their name???

Ladybugs are really ladybird beetles. Their name actually is originated in the middle Ages in Europe. Long time ago, there is a crop disaster happened in a small farming village. Without any effective solutions, the farmers began to beg to the Blessed Virgin Mary to send help in this calamity.  Soon, there is a change in the crops, the dying foliage started to revitalize and lastly the greenness of crops once again reappeared on the landscape. Then, the farmers saw many small red bugs with black dots on their concave bodies just like a battle soldier. These small red bugs were eating the destructive pest – aphids. The villagers cheer with saying “Our Lady’s bugs, Our Lady’s beetle”. Consequently, this small bug has become a very familiar pest killer and people give their name as ladybugs.

The ladybug is considered as a symbol of good luck and some cultures even rear them as pets in many countries in the world. Generally they are considered as useful insects, because most of them feed on aphids or scale insects, which are pests in gardens, agricultural fields and orchards. Due to ladybugs huge appetite for crop pests, most of the farmers and gardeners welcome the presence of ladybugs as a blessing and idolize the insect as a lucky symbol.

They can be found worldwide, with over 5000 species described. Both adults and larvae live on plants like roses, oleander, milkweed and broccoli. During the winter, the adults will hibernate in large groups, frequently in mountains at high elevations.

Behavior

Most of the ladybug species are predators. They can be found on the same plants feeding on the same species of prey. They also consume flower nectar, water and honeydew as their supplement. However, only a few ladybug species are plants eaters.

Brightly colored of these ladybugs is to warn their predator that they are distasteful and toxic. Ladybugs can also protect themselves by pretend dead. By pulling their legs up “turtle-style”, and normally release a small amount of blood from their legs. The bad smell and the visible look of death usually prevent their predators. After the threat of danger has passed, the ladybug will return to its normal activities.

In addition, their bodies are not able to handle extreme cold. They will look for shelter when the weather begins to turn cold. During the winter, they rest quietly and this period is called diapause. During diapause, the ladybugs do not grow and they can go without food for 9 months during diapause.

Ladybug and their foods – aphids. www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_ladybirds/

Life cycle

www.willowridge.shs.k12.ny.us/WR_Teacher_Pages/sarnackij/Gr2%20Life%20Ladybug

Check out these fun facts about the ladybugs!!!

• Usually, the female ladybug is larger than the male.
• A female ladybug can lay more than 1000 eggs in her lifetime.
• The females will lay the infertile eggs as well as the fertile eggs.
• In average, the life cycle of a ladybug is between 4 to 6 weeks.
• A hard wing cover protects the ladybug’s fragile wings.
• A ladybug beats its wings 85 times a second when it flies.
• Ladybugs won’t fly if the temperature is below 13 degrees Celsius [55 F].
• The spots on a ladybug fade as they get older.
• Ladybugs use their antenna to smell, taste, and feel its way around.
• They can only see the difference between dark and light but they cannot see colors at all.
• Their larva is like mini alligator and their body adorned with spines.
• The ladybug do not bite, but they will pretend die with hides its legs and antenna under the body.

The emergence process of ladybug. www.kidzcraftz.ca/ladybugs.htm

Do you see it??? Can you see its long hind legs?? This little baby katydid together with its brothers and sisters were hatched at our farm just a week ago… While still in nymph stage, its length is already almost 4 inches ~! Don’t miss this little one ~!!