Biggest Beetle

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Trehopr1
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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by Trehopr1 »

Love these (as I have 8 of them/2 flying).

My largest example measures in at 12.5 cm.
One of the prides of my collection !

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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by Trehopr1 »

My largest M. acteon comes in at 12.4 cm.
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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by boghaunter1 »

Another Spectacular Giant Cerambycid - Telotoma hayesi endemic to Sao Tome, Principe Isl. - Unfortunately I hesitated years ago & never managed to acquire such a nice (any at all!) large specimen! :cry:

T. hayesi male, 109mm

Telotoma hayesi 109mm -male.jpg
Telotoma hayesi 109mm -male.jpg (64.86 KiB) Viewed 3917 times

$T2eC16FHJHQFFhTeB2ofBSJN4MHhjw~~60_57.jpg
$T2eC16FHJHQFFhTeB2ofBSJN4MHhjw~~60_57.jpg (286.3 KiB) Viewed 3917 times

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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by Trehopr1 »

O'h yeah, 👍

Always a grand species that never sells on the cheap !💰
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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by boghaunter1 »

One of the "Giant" beetles I first acquired decades ago, as a teenager, was Ctenoscelis coeus; it was cheap ($10-15.00 USD) & was a commonly offered sp. at that time...I think it is rarely offered these days? Following is another closely related sp. that I see more recently (last 10-15 years).

Ctenoscelis ater, 111mm - Peru
Ctenoscelis ater, 111mm, M., Peru, nice, jpg.jpg
Ctenoscelis ater, 111mm, M., Peru, nice, jpg.jpg (275.2 KiB) Viewed 3907 times

Another Giant (Rare?) Cerambycid from Peru - male Orthomegas frischiseini, 101mm

Orthomegas frischiseini, M., 101mm, Peru.jpg
Orthomegas frischiseini, M., 101mm, Peru.jpg (86.74 KiB) Viewed 3907 times

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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by adamcotton »

You know when Chalcosoma, Eupatorus or other giant beetles are flying to the sheet, they make a lot of noise flying! They also disturb all the moths you are trying to look at! I used to do this when I was young.

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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by boghaunter1 »

Giant male Xixuthrus microceros - Buru Isl., 130mm

Xixuthrus lunicollis - male - 130mm.jpg
Xixuthrus lunicollis - male - 130mm.jpg (79.31 KiB) Viewed 3901 times

Another Giant Cerambycid - a VERY RARE X. domingensis - 96mm - $2,300.00 USD!
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Xixuthrus domingensis, male, 96mm, RARE, $2,300.00 USD.jpg
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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by Panacanthus »

My only example of this species..... and one I chose to spread "out" a little more than usual to show off its size.

Telotoma hayesi 124mm
T. hayesi IN.jpg
T. hayesi IN.jpg (701.36 KiB) Viewed 3887 times
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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by boghaunter1 »

(Not Mine!) Incredible collection of 28 specimens (big & small) of Titanus giganteus... :o :shock:

sber.jpg
sber.jpg (132.45 KiB) Viewed 3849 times

(Not Mine!... old online photo) Big (148mm) & small (92mm)... I do, however, have a smaller 88mm T. g. - John K.

Titanus giganteus 148 92.JPG
Titanus giganteus 148 92.JPG (310.89 KiB) Viewed 3849 times

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Paul K
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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by Paul K »

What difference in regards of size within one species!
Mine is 111mm so I suppose I could call it medium size 🤪
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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by MIKELOCK34 »

I saw a Titanus while collecting in French Guiana that measured 21.45 cm after drying. Many, likely most, specimens of insects are never measured and documented for public forums, publication, etc.
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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by 58chevy »

21.45cm is 8-1/2 inches! Maybe the guy who described the 9" Titanus was not exaggerating. Mike, what happened to the Titanus you observed?
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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by boghaunter1 »

Hi 58chevy,

"Maybe the guy who described the 9" Titanus was not exaggerating"... this comes from the Rev. J. G. Wood in his all encompassing book "Insects Abroad". This is a really interesting old book with many beautiful B. & W. engravings. I have a nice 1892 copy. In his book (pg. 231) the Rev. Wood says, "The first family of the Longicornes is the Prionidae, in which are comprised some of the giants of the insect race, one, indeed, being the largest insect in existence, measuring nine inches in length, and being very wide and thick of body (interestingly, the Rev. never mentioned it by name, but was referring, of course, to T. giganteus - John K.)... further... "I should very much have liked to have it engraved, but it is so large that by no possibility could space be found for it, even if a whole page were given up for it." His book measures 5" x 9" & has 780 pages. I would highly recommend finding a copy of this book if you are interested in great, historic works on insects.

Hi MIKELOCKE34,

Re: the unheard of 21.45cm (8.5") T. giganteus... like the Fox Mulder poster on the X-Files, "I want to believe..." ;) ; only a good photo (of actual specimen) with accurate measurement will suffice for me... would be truly incredible if true! :shock: :shock:

John K.
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Re: Biggest Beetle

Post by hakomoto »

There are no verified photos for the claim of the 16.5cm Xixuthrus heros specimen.
The largest verified specimen is a 14.5cm male at a European museum
I can believe this species and X.terribilis reaching 15cm or a little bit more but 16.5cm seems highly dubious to me
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, as the saying goes
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