LORD HOWE ISLAND STICK INSECT
The stick insect is also called by its alternative name, the land lobster because of its robust, heavy body. Originally the stick insect lives in large tree hollows of forested areas of the Lord Howe Island Group but now currently presides on Ball's Mountain, a volcanic outcrop.
Adult stick insects tend to be nocturnal and are herbivorous feeding on a variety of plants. They do reproduce sexually but also thought to do it asexually by parthenogenesis in which unfertilised eggs hatched into females. Mating usually occurs 3 times per night and may take up 20 minutes each with females laying up to 300 eggs in a lifetime.
in 1918, rats were accidentally introduced to the island wiping out the species from its original habitat and were thought to be extinct until they were discovered on Ball's Mountain. Now they are being threatened by habitat disturbance, illegal collection, and the shrubs they lived in are threatened by rival competition from other plants. The small wild population of 20 to 30 individuals can be wiped out by a random event.
In 2003, the Melbourne Zoo was given a pair of stick insects and since then more than 9,000 individuals have been bred being sent to many breeding institutions. The main goal of the Melbourne Zoo is to use the captive individuals as a insurance population and reintroduce them once the rats were eradicated from the island b
Adult stick insects tend to be nocturnal and are herbivorous feeding on a variety of plants. They do reproduce sexually but also thought to do it asexually by parthenogenesis in which unfertilised eggs hatched into females. Mating usually occurs 3 times per night and may take up 20 minutes each with females laying up to 300 eggs in a lifetime.
in 1918, rats were accidentally introduced to the island wiping out the species from its original habitat and were thought to be extinct until they were discovered on Ball's Mountain. Now they are being threatened by habitat disturbance, illegal collection, and the shrubs they lived in are threatened by rival competition from other plants. The small wild population of 20 to 30 individuals can be wiped out by a random event.
In 2003, the Melbourne Zoo was given a pair of stick insects and since then more than 9,000 individuals have been bred being sent to many breeding institutions. The main goal of the Melbourne Zoo is to use the captive individuals as a insurance population and reintroduce them once the rats were eradicated from the island b
CORAL PINK SAND DUNES TIGER BEETLE
The species is considered a subspecies of the tiger beetle but may be a distinct species since it lives over 370 miles from any nearest tiger beetle populations. Adults lived in the troughs between the dunes and the upper slopes while larvae preferred damp protected furrows between the dunes. They are restricted to a 13 kilometer long dune field in the Coral Pink Sand Dunes of southern Utah.
They're active predators eating live and dead insects with their huge mandibles.
The population is widely affected by how much rainfall there is with droughts severely affecting them. Since 1998, annual population surveys were taken with 2,944 in 2002 to 558 in 2005. In 2011, it reached up 1,116 and 2012, have increased to 1,786. Their habitat is threatened by off road vehicles specifically larvae nurseries. Degrading vegetation from the vehicles reduced larval habitat and prey abundance. A 370 acre conservation area was established covering 80% of suitable habitat to preserve the species.
They're active predators eating live and dead insects with their huge mandibles.
The population is widely affected by how much rainfall there is with droughts severely affecting them. Since 1998, annual population surveys were taken with 2,944 in 2002 to 558 in 2005. In 2011, it reached up 1,116 and 2012, have increased to 1,786. Their habitat is threatened by off road vehicles specifically larvae nurseries. Degrading vegetation from the vehicles reduced larval habitat and prey abundance. A 370 acre conservation area was established covering 80% of suitable habitat to preserve the species.
PEACOCK TARANTULA
The tarantula is highly known for its bright metallic blue color and have a complex pattern on their abdomens. They can only be found in a small deciduous reserve forest that is less than 39 square miles but it's highly disturbed in Andhra Pradesh in southern central India. It was first discovered in the town of Gooty in a railway timber yard.
They make asymmetrical funnel webs in tree holes and preyed on various insects.
They are threatened by habitat degradation due to logging and firewood harvesting and the exotic pet trade in which the pricing goes above $500 in the United States. Females are highly prized because of their age longevity living up to 12 years and are useful in breeding making them more expensive.
They make asymmetrical funnel webs in tree holes and preyed on various insects.
They are threatened by habitat degradation due to logging and firewood harvesting and the exotic pet trade in which the pricing goes above $500 in the United States. Females are highly prized because of their age longevity living up to 12 years and are useful in breeding making them more expensive.