Posted on 12/24/2004 3:32:37 AM PST by bd476
"A "monster" cockroach and other new insects have been discovered in the jungles of Borneo, scientists say. An expedition of caves and cliffs, led by the Nature Conservancy, also said it saw previously unknown fish and plants.
"In just five weeks, the expedition team discovered numerous new species previously unknown to science," the conservancy's Scott Stanley said.
"Who knows what else is out there?" he added, calling for the area surveyed in East Kalimantan to be preserved.
"If something is not done soon to protect these areas, dozens of species could disappear before anyone knew they ever existed."
Borneo is one of the world's richest regions, in terms of biodiversity, but the area had no special status that might have protected it against illegal mining or logging.
The team of scientists explored four "karst" systems of limestone caves, cliffs and sinkholes in the Sangkulirang Peninsula, about 1,200km (750 miles) north-west of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta.
At 10cm (4in) long, the newly-discovered cockroach is believed to be the largest in the world.
As well as the "monster" cockroach, the scientists reported a new "micro-crab", a pure-white 6.5cm-long millipede, two new species of begonia, two new species of snail and several new types of fish, the conservancy said."
I remember as a young boy from NYC visiting my brother at a Marine Corp facility near Albany Georgia and turning on the lights in his house and being literally assaulted by about 20 of those huge flying monstrosities called palmetto bugs and it scared the crap out of me. The rest of the time I was there I always carried a baseball bat whenever I turned on the lights at night.
WE NEED TO PRESERVE THESE COCKROACHES!!! Don't you peons realize, if we don't save the cockroaches now, they'll be no cockroaches left to save a decade from now! Get with it, man!
management of course lol
No, I was doing some work on cockroach glands prior to a PhD program, but went to Nam instead. I still got to work with cockroaches though. On my ship, you waited until you heard a rustling noise by your bunk and took your shoe and slammed it against the bulkhead several times. Usually, you would get 6-12 of the little fellas.
Palmetto bugs is a southern euphemism for cockroaches. Southern women did not want to admit they lost the battle, so the renamed them.
They did the same thing with "Yankees".
Talented little guys, aren't they?
They got a bigger 'un in Little Rock.
I've seen plenty of bigger ones in Washington, they are call elected officals.
Oh yes, we have Palmetto bugs and giant roaches both, the difference being that the former crunch and the latter squish when one stomps 'em, or wait, is it the other way around...? Next time we can talk about Bufo toads, walking catfish and alligators in driveways, pools and on the patio!
Did I mention we have Hurricanes? Seminoles too, which is even worse. Fortunately we have the Gators and UF to raise the tone of things (grin).
So they hide in corners ???...........:o)
Merry Christmas BD !!
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