Giant cockroach among jungle find

BBC News Asia-Pacific ^ | Thursday, 23 December, 2004

[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."

[bd476]

"At 10cm (4in) long, the newly-discovered cockroach is believed to be the largest in the world."

Errh, I would hope so.

[William of Orange]

*ahem* *cough* Kerry *cough*

[backhoe]

"At 10cm (4in) long, the newly-discovered cockroach is believed to be the largest in the world." Errh, I would hope so.

Shoot, he ought to see what we have in south Georgia- and they fly when excited, too.

[SamAdams76]

"If something is not done soon to protect these areas, dozens of species could disappear before anyone knew they ever existed."

If species ever existed without us knowing about them, then did they ever exist?

[Darkwolf377]

I think it moved to the jungle after leaving my old apartment.

[Lazamataz]

Giant cockroach among jungle find

?

[Greenpees]

Save the endangered Cockroaches!!

Now, I've heard everything.

[mewzilla]

Good news for roach wranglers!

[Mad Mammoth]

"At 10cm (4in) long, the newly-discovered cockroach is believed to be the largest in the world."

O-Kaaaay...4 inches. That accounts for ONE part of Terry McAuliffe's anatomy, but what about the rest of him? I KNOW McAuliffe is larger than that.

And what the Hell is he doing in Borneo?!?

[bd476]

LOL! Imagine that thing in his old running mate's hair.

[ExGeeEye]

Ayup...ever go patrolling the house with a 12-ga.? Recommend (a) birdshot, (2) earplugs, and (b) evacuate the dogs'n'cats ('nless the roaches et'em already)

[Cornpone]

This must be a devastating blow on the national psyches of Iran, Iraq, and North Korea?

[bd476]

Those things are bigger than Vdubs or at least the scorpions.

[gitmo]

I've seen those critters. I never measured one, but I'd be willing to bet they top 4".

[bd476]

AKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK! /end philosophical shriek

[ExGeeEye]

...endangered Cockroaches...

You say that like it's a bad thing...

[bd476]

ROFL!

[Jazzman1]

<<<"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." >>>

So, get the h*ll outta there!

[bd476]

ROFL! Try to imagine the roach motel necessary to catch that thing.

[mewzilla]

LOL. They've seen too many screenings of Joe's Apartment.