Ed Baker FLS ARCS

Picture of Ed Baker.

Interdisciplinary researcher using sensor networks and acoustics to monitor biodiversity and environments.

GitHub | CV | Media | Social

Latest publications

All publications

Google Scholar

Co-authorship Cloud

Latest blog posts

All blog posts

Talks

All talks

Notes

All notes

Some thoughts on

Not the Heaviest Insect

Several news sources, mainly in Australia, have been reporting that a Macropanesthia cockroach (the one pictured is called Heathcliffe) may be a contender for heaviest insect in the world.

THIS IS NOT TRUE (at all). These cockroaches can sometimes approach a weight of 40g. The heaviest recorded phasmid (Heteropteryx dilatata) exceeds this weight regularly. Additionally many beetles weigh in excess of 50g, and some even 100g, so poor Heathcliffe has absolutely no chance at the title.

It is a pretty amazing cockroach though.