Please welcome the world’s longest insect. Measuring a horrifying 56.7cm (including legs) this stick insect has just been unveiled by the Natural History Museum in London and was described in the scientific literature for the first time this week.

In a paper in the journal Zootaxa, researchers Frank Hennemann and Oskar Conle propose a revision of the classification of oriental stick insects and along the way get around to describing seven new species (paper abstract pdf).

The star of this show is the record-breaking Chan’s megastick (Phobaeticus chani). It was given to Malaysian entomologist Datuk Chan Chew Lun by a local man and then shown to UK scientist Philip Bragg, who recognized it as a new species. Chan then donated one of the three known specimens to the museum.

“We’ve known about both of the previous record holders for over a hundred years, so it is extraordinary that an even bigger species has only just been discovered,” says George Beccaloni, stick-insect expert at the NHM (press release).

More photos and links to other media reports below the fold.

Phobaeticus chani

Phobaeticus chani with museum curator George Beccaloni

Phobaeticus chani: The world’s longest living insect – Independent

Mother of creepy crawlies on show – PA

Introducing Chan’s megastick: The record-breaking insect as long as your arm – Daily Mail

UPDATE

As Beccaloni points out in the comments below, this insect was named in a paper by Hennemann and Conle but was not named by them. The scientist responsible for the naming was Phil Bragg. Apologies for any confusion caused.

Images: NHM