Nui Chua stick insect

Vietnam is characterised by its extraordinary biodiversity, which includes a large number of different animal and plant species. One recently described species is the Nui Chua stick insect, which was scientifically recorded in 2018. Its name is derived from Nui Chua National Park, the only known distribution area of this species to date. The species inhabits the evergreen rainforests of the region and demonstrates a pronounced camouflage ability: its branch-like appearance means it is perfectly adapted to its environment and thus evades potential predators.
As is typical for many representatives of the stick insects (Phasmatodea), the Nui Chua stick insect exhibits a pronounced sexual dimorphism. Females reach a body length of up to 13 cm, while males remain significantly smaller at around 6 cm. A remarkable feature of this species is its social reproductive behaviour: As soon as a male reaches sexual maturity, it clings to a female nymph (juvenile) and remains there until the end of its life. Even during the final moult of the female, during the transition from the nymph to the adult stage, the male remains on the female. In addition, it has been observed that males show defensive behaviour towards other males in order to secure their reproductive partner. Nymphs of the species react differently to stress depending on their stage of development: Younger animals show hectic movements, while older nymphs assume a thanatosis (rigor mortis).
The exact population of the Nui Chua stick insect has not yet been recorded. However, due to its very limited distribution area, it is assumed that the overall population size is small. As the species lives in the treetops, it is dependent on intact forest areas. Increasing deforestation therefore poses a potential threat to its survival. To safeguard the species, some zoos have begun breeding the Nui Chua stick insect in a controlled environment in order to establish a stable conservation breeding population and thus ensure the long-term survival of this remarkable insect species.