Stick Insects, Mantids & Beetles of Tabin Wildlife Reserve
With more than 10% of the world's species found there, Borneo is arguably the best place to study stick insects. Although stick insects, or phasmids, include the largest insects known, they are mostly nocturnal and easily overlooked. In 1838, Hermann Burmeister described the first stick insect from Borneo. During the next 100 years, almost 300 species more were recorded, making the island the richest territory for stick insects in the world. There was then a gap of almost 50 years when no new species were recorded from Borneo. However, during the last decade 53 new species have been described: 48 by Philip E. Bragg author of Phasmids of Borneo (2001), the definitive source of information about Bornean stick insects.

A variety of interesting praying mantis are found in Tabin and it is always fascinating to watch their predatory behaviour. Their protective colouration usually makes them difficult to see but their habit of remaining still while ambushing prey or avoiding predators often enables photographers to set up photos of mantids.

Right: Mormolyce phyllodes a fiddle beetle (Sabah Wildlife Dept.)
During the Tabin Scientific Expedition Sawada et al (1999) collected beetles using a variety of methods including nets, traps, visual observation and manual collection. About 1,000 specimens were collected during the 10 day expedition.

Among these were members of the family Scarabaeidae (copraphagous dung beetles) that were found around animal and human excrement; weevils (families Anthribidae and Curculionidae; subfamily Zygopinae) found living on fallen and cut tree stems; and tiger beetles (family Cicindelidae) found along streams. In their 1999 report Sawada et al provide a list of the genera collected and pictures of several species of Scarabaeidae.
Unidentified (ICN photo)

Borneo forests such as Tabin are well known for the spectacular range of stick insects and beetles including fiddle beetles (above, right), huge stick insects, rhinoceros beetles and a variety of other large and exotic beetles.

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