On August 1, the Chengdu Huaxi Entomological Museum released 15 artificially bred Chinese giant bamboo shootworms back to their place of origin, located in the Dayao Mountain National Nature Reserve in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Zhao Li, director of the museum, introduced that the purpose of the repatriation action is to promote the genetic exchange of this rare species and restore the wild population.
Expedition members release Chinese giant arthropod larvae
Release: 15 Chinese giant bamboo worms "go home" artificially bred in Chengdu
The Chinese giant bamboo shootworm (Latin scientific name phryganistria chinensis zhao) is a new species discovered in Guangxi in 2014 by the Huaxi Entomological Museum in Chengdu, with a maximum individual total length of 64 centimeters, the longest of more than 800,000 insect species that have been named by humans, and received the Guinness World Records Certificate in 2017. After the discovery of this species, the Chengdu Huaxi Entomological Museum has artificially bred it, and dozens of individuals have been bred so far.
Chinese giant arthropod larvae
In a study of giant stick insects in China, the museum found that due to the influence of human activities, the distribution area of this species is isolated into several isolated distribution points by farmland, highways and plantations, etc., and there is a lack of genetic communication between them, and the population is very rare, with only 24 found in the wild. To prevent the species from becoming extinct in the wild, they decided to launch a wild release program.
Released Chinese giant bamboo worm larvae crawl to their new homes
Zhao Li introduced that for the release site, the experts have made a strict choice, first of all, it must be the area of origin with the activity of the species, to avoid the release of individuals into invasive alien species, and secondly, it must be ensured that the release is not interfered with by human activities and ensures the greatest chance of survival. After comparing the five primary release sites, they finally decided to implement the plan in the Dayao Mountain National Nature Reserve.
Zhao Li introduced that the 15 Chinese giant stick insects released are all 3-4 year old larvae, equivalent to human teenagers, and the individuals who choose this age stage are mainly considered to consider that the stick insects at this stage are the most vigorous and can fully adapt to the wild living environment.
Investigation: The presence of giant bamboo worms in China was first found in the Dayao Mountains
With the support of the local government and the protected area, from July to August 2018, the expedition team organized by the Huaxi Entomological Museum conducted a meticulous investigation and investigation in the Dayao Mountains. The activity was finally found near the estuary conservation station, and two individuals were found during the day of July 30 and the night of July 31, one of which was more than half a meter long. According to the staff of the reserve, they are looking for mountains every day and have never encountered such a huge insect. The Propaganda Department of the Jinxiu County Party Committee also confirmed that this is the first time that the existence of Chinese giant bamboo worms has been found in the Dayao Mountains.
Zhao Li and the Chinese giant bamboo worm found in the wild
Zhao Li, the leader of the expedition and the director of the Huaxi Insect Museum, introduced that the reason for this situation is that the Chinese giant bamboo insect is hidden in the canopy of tall trees, the body shape and color are highly imitative of branches, and the daytime static state is only active at night, so it is extremely difficult to find.
Adult individuals of wild Chinese giant bamboo worms
During the expedition, the expedition also found more than 20 kinds of stick insects in the Dayao Mountains, most of which are "imitation masters", for example, the body surface of the echinaceous bamboo worms that imitate moss is almost exactly the same as that of moss. However, there are also some stick insects that do not take the usual path, and the surface of the body of the bamboo stick insect that flies when the lanterns of the sanctuary mountain are lured is a conspicuous bright yellow, tender green and orange-red combination, which looks very charming, which is not that the stick insect wants to actively expose itself, but actually imitates a poisonous bug in the local area.
Chengdu Business Daily client reporter Yan Xue Picture courtesy of Huaxi Insect Museum Intern editor Liu Yupeng