A STICK INSECT IN SAME

Martin T. Walsh

P.O. Box 99187, Mombasa, Kenya

corrected version of a note originally published in

East Africa Natural History Society Bulletin, 21 (3): 48

September 1991

current address:
kisutu@hotmail.com
EANHS Bulletin 21 (3), September 1991 48
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A STICK INSECT IN SAME

In early September 1990, while staying in Same (between the North and South Pare
Mountains) in north-east Tanzania, I stumbled upon what was by far the longest stick-insect
that I have ever seen. It was clinging to the sides of some cement steps, and at first I mistook
it for a growth of leafless twigs. Not until I saw that these grey twigs were perfectly
symmetrical and growing out of nothing did it dawn on me that I might be looking at a living
creature. I showed it to some of my colleagues, members of local women’s groups, and they
were only convinced of its real identity once they had frightened it into moving. Like me
they were astounded by its size, and all of them declared that they had never seen anything
like it before. They were, indeed, somewhat alarmed, and killed it with a few well-aimed
rocks.
I had all but forgotten about this incident until recently, when I came across the
following statement in last year’s edition of The Guinness Book of Records (p.40): “The
longest insect in the world is the Giant Stick Insect Pharnacia serratipes of Indonesia,
females of which have been measured up to 330 mm (13 inches)”. How I wish that I had
made use of a tape measure and camera that day! I could swear that my Same stick insect
was much the same size as the longest of its Indonesian cousins. It was certainly much
longer than the norm – or what I suppose to be the norm in my ignorance of the relevant
entomological records. I would be very happy for someone to write and enlighten me.
Otherwise, and not just for those with an eye to the record books, I would recommend a visit
to the hostel recently opened by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Same. The hostel buildings
enclose a small garden, host (one hopes) to the relatives of a very long, but unfortunately
very dead, stick insect.

Dr Martin Walsh, Box 99187, Mombasa.