Australia has always been an extremely species-rich country, but did you know that it is also one of the countries with very high levels of species extinction in the world? Recently, a survey revealed that a species that is about to go extinct is rarely known in Australia. This animal is the Lord Howe Island stick worm.
It is known as the "rarest in the world" insect and is endemic to Australia. They used to live mostly on Lord Howe Island, and after 1920 the insect was declared extinct. It wasn't until 2001, when a group of entomologists and conservationists surveyed the local flora and fauna at the Balls Pyramid, that they accidentally rediscovered a very small Lord Howe stick worm colony, numbering about 20 to 30 individuals.
They are up to 15 cm long and weigh up to 25 grams, and females are generally larger than males. Their physique and color changes have always been known as "lobsters in trees". They have oval bodies and strong feet, and males have a pair of disproportionately thick legs. However, the original legs of these stick insects were not as thick as they are now, but extremely slender.
Because their habitat is destroyed, they migrate south. The southern land is windy, and the slender calves are difficult to grasp the ground and are easily blown away by the wind. Therefore, they constantly strengthen their thighs and work hard to make their thighs longer and thicker. In order to better hunt, they are also armed with "fierce" thorns on their thighs, so that the enemy sees the wind and flees. Using these thick thighs can make them run faster.
The most unique thing about this stick worm is its care for his wife, which is vividly displayed in the little things of life. The male worm is very considerate of his wife, always following his wife's wishes, and even letting his wife decide the direction and location of the activities together. At night, the male wraps his wife with his strong legs to protect her from the wind and cold until she falls asleep.
"LHI stick insects have some special qualities, such as their resilience and desperate survival, their ability to reproduce without males, their tendency to form large social groups during the day, and even their footpads are heart-shaped. If people knew these facts, the popularity factor could skyrocket," Dr. Pearson said.
In Australia, 85% of people don't like them. This puts their survival at greater risk. Many people believe that an arthropod bug, no matter how unique, does not have the affection of mammals, such as another endangered animal, the Tasmanian devil.
Now, endangered insects are fighting hard for support, and studying and saving a species from tens of thousands of years ago has profound implications for scientific research. I sincerely hope that these bugs, which may not be "beautiful", can survive forever...
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