Phobaeticus serratipes

Phobaeticus serratipes
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Phasmatidae
Genus: Phobaeticus
Species:
P. serratipes
Binomial name
Phobaeticus serratipes
(Gray, 1835)
Synonyms
  • Bacteria acanthopus
    Burmeister, 1838
  • Baculolonga serratipes
    (Gray, 1835)
  • Cladoxerus serratipes
    Gray, 1835
  • Pharnacia serratipes
    (Gray, 1835)
  • Phibalosoma serratipes
    (Gray, 1835)
  • Pharnacia maxima
    (Bates, 1865)
  • Bactridium grande
    Rehn, 1920

Phobaeticus serratipes (formerly known as Pharnacia serratipes) is a species of stick insect that at one time was the longest known insect, with one female specimen recorded as being 55.5 cm (21.9 in) in total length. This measurement includes the legs fully extended front and rear, and the actual length of the body alone is considerably shorter. This insect is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Sumatra. It is a popular species among those who raise insects.

The record for longest known insect is now held by an individual of the stick insect Phryganistria "chinensis" (an informal name for a currently undescribed species) measuring 64 cm (25 in).