Heteropteryx

Heteropteryx
	male
	female Heteropteryx dilatata from Malaysia
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Phasmatodea
Family:	Heteropterygidae
Subfamily:	Heteropteryginae
Tribe:	Heteropterygini
Genus:	Heteropteryx
Species:	H. dilatata
Binomial name
	Heteropteryx dilatata; (Parkinson, 1798)

Heteropteryx dilatata, also known as jungle nymph, Malaysian stick insect, Malayan jungle nymph, or Malayan wood nymph, is a large member of the Phasmatodea, commonly kept in captivity. It originates in Malaya and is nocturnal. This insect holds the world record for the largest egg laid by an insect. The eggs are about 1.3 cm (0.5 in) in length.^[1]

Description

Females reach a length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in), one of the world's heaviest insects, and the males a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in).^[2] The females of this species are very aggressive and much larger, wider, and brighter-colored than the male. The female is lime green and has short, rounded wings, however their short length doesn't allow them to fly. The males are much smaller and a mottled brown colour. Both sexes have small spikes on their upper bodies, more numerous in the female, who also has very large spines on her hind legs that can snap together as a scissor-like weapon.^[3]

Reproduction

Females are born a beige color, which fades as it molts, while the male is a darker brown. This species produces sexually. The female will deposit the dark, circular eggs in moist soil. The eggs take from 12 to 14 months to hatch.^[4]

Captivity

They eat bramble, oak, blackberry, raspberry, and ivy, along with other leaves. Their temperature conditions should be between 20 °C (68 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F) and should have a high humidity level, provided by spraying the enclosure with water. They live up to two years in captivity.^[5]