|
|
Post by trehopr1 on Mar 17, 2022 11:38:23 GMT -8
Atlas beetles are southeast Asia's largest Dynastine type beetles. They all belong to the genus Chalcosoma of which at least 4 species have been named. The Greek "titan" Atlas for which these beetles have been affectionately named is a pillar of strength and endurance in Greek mythology. He bears the weight of the world upon his shoulders as punishment for taking sides in a ten-year battle between the Greek gods. I can envision a golf ball or tennis ball easily being supported by one of these beetles between the "racks" of their elegant adornment. I really like these beetles ! Their very "form" is elegant and appealing in its design and their highly polished (glossy) black appearance is quite attractive as well. Below, I offer beetle enthusiasts a candid view of my drawer dedicated to this awesome genus. I only collect (large size) males and over the years have been "picky" about finding ones with long tapering horns or those with "thicker" wider ones. Males run the gamet in size from as little as 8-9cm on up to giants in excess of 12 cm.  Hope that you have enjoyed this afternoon's topic. |
|
|
|
|
|
Post by livingplanet3 on Mar 18, 2022 15:09:25 GMT -8
In my opinion, Chalcosoma are the most spectacular of the Asian rhinoceros beetles, rivaled only by their close relative Eupatorus gracillicornis. I'll always remember how excited I was by the first specimen of Chalsosoma that I acquired for my collection, a C. atlas, followed some years later by the even larger species, C. chiron (caucasus). The larvae of these beetles can be quite reactive when carelessly handled, and deliver a painful pinch with their mandibles. Also, the adults have a sharp edge along the margin of the thorax where it meets the elytra, that can pinch with considerable force. |
|
|
|
Post by lamprima2 on Mar 18, 2022 20:11:53 GMT -8
Darwin on Atlas beetle (The descent of Man):
"...if we could imagine a male...with its polished bronze coat of mail,
and its vast complex horns, magnified to the size of a horse, or even a dog,
it would be one of the most imposing animals in the world."
|
|
|
|
Post by livingplanet3 on Mar 18, 2022 20:19:54 GMT -8
Darwin on Atlas beetle (The descent of Man): "...if we could imagine a male...with its polished bronze coat of mail, and its vast complex horns, magnified to the size of a horse, or even a dog, it would be one of the most imposing animals in the world." Indeed, they are the insect equivalent of Triceratops. |
|
|
|
Post by eleodes on Mar 19, 2022 5:49:14 GMT -8
What species is that one in the middle of the bottom?
|
|
|
|
Post by livingplanet3 on Mar 19, 2022 6:42:32 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post by trehopr1 on Mar 19, 2022 10:11:04 GMT -8
I was particularly happy to run across that specimen about 15 years ago. It is rather unique looking amongst the genus and my specimen comes from North Borneo (Mt.Kinabalu).
|
|
|
|
Post by livingplanet3 on Mar 19, 2022 10:38:02 GMT -8
I was particularly happy to run across that specimen about 15 years ago. It is rather unique looking amongst the genus and my specimen comes from North Borneo (Mt.Kinabalu). Mount Kinabalu is an amazing place, with a great diversity of wildlife. It's certainly much easier to get to now, compared to when naturalist Hugh Low explored the area in the 1850s. Quite a few plants and animals bear his name, including Papilio lowi -  For those interested, here's an excellent documentary about Kinabalu, from 1984 - archive.org/details/KinabaluSummitOfBorneo |
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Mar 19, 2022 11:03:57 GMT -8
Druce (Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 1873(2): 358, pl. 33, f. 6) described Papilio lowii (note correct spelling) from Borneo, but this doesn't actually occur there at all, it comes from Palawan and the small island of Balabac just to the south. Papilio lowii is actually not a distinct species, but is the only subspecies of Papilio memnon with a tailed male. The nominate subspecies occurs on Java and Borneo. Druce also recorded Papilio memnon in the same paper, so it is obvious that the specimens did not only originate from Borneo.
Adam.
|
|
|
|
Post by livingplanet3 on Mar 19, 2022 11:30:56 GMT -8
Druce (Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 1873(2): 358, pl. 33, f. 6) described Papilio lowii (note correct spelling) from Borneo, but this doesn't actually occur there at all, it comes from Palawan and the small island of Balabac just to the south. Papilio lowii is actually not a distinct species, but is the only subspecies of Papilio memnon with a tailed male. The nominate subspecies occurs on Java and Borneo. Druce also recorded Papilio memnon in the same paper, so it is obvious that the specimens did not only originate from Borneo. Adam. Thanks for the clarification; I'd wondered if lowii was in fact a ssp. of P. memnon. Will make note to revise my specimen's label. My specimen is a farmed one from the Philippines, and so is highly unlikely to be a true, pure-bred example of lowii (I recall reading somewhere that lowii has now become hybridized with some closely related species at butterfly farms, one of which may be P. rumanzovia). |
|
|
|
Post by panacanthus on Mar 19, 2022 23:13:00 GMT -8
Trehopr1, you inspired me to take a few new photos! These are mostly just repeats of what you've already shown, but they were fun to take! I thought it may be interesting to show my C. caucasus with the wings spread in a different manner, as we spread them differently. I don't think there's a right or wrong.......I see a lot more spread like yours actually! Chalcosoma caucasus 122mm (measured when elytra were closed) Wingspan 225mm  Chalcosoma caucasus 129mm from Sumatra  Chalcosoma atlas 100mm from Philippines  Chalcosoma moellenkampi 101mm from Borneo  And Eupatorus gracillicornis thrown in just for fun!  |
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Mar 20, 2022 0:57:34 GMT -8
Thanks for the clarification; I'd wondered if lowii was in fact a ssp. of P. memnon. Will make note to revise my specimen's label. My specimen is a farmed one from the Philippines, and so is highly unlikely to be a true, pure-bred example of lowii (I recall reading somewhere that lowii has now become hybridized with some closely related species at butterfly farms, one of which may be P. rumanzovia). Yes, yours is probably a 'hybrid' unless it came from a farm on Palawan. There they are not allowed to import livestock from other parts of the Philippines, so their stock is pure lowii. Specimens from farms in the rest of the Philippines are intraspecific hybrids, not with P. deiphobus rumanzovia, but with memnon which originated from Taiwan. The breeders kept this in the same cages as lowii, and of course they cross mated. Then pupae were distributed throughout the farms across the country (most farms are owned by just a few families who co-operate) as part of their anti-inbreeding program. Nowadays when they hatch they sell the ones that look similar to lowii as that and the ones that look like memnon are sold with that name. Adam. PS. Sorry to deviate from the superb Chalcosoma thread. |
|
|
|
Post by trehopr1 on Mar 20, 2022 9:12:35 GMT -8
Those are REALLY splendid additional photographs panacanthus -- as always !
Happy to see that you added them to the thread.
You've really got a "buster" of a Chalcosoma with that 12.9 cm. specimen ! My largest specimen is a (horse) coming in at 12.5 cm. in the top left corner of the drawer.
Your spread example of the flying Chalcosoma is a "even better" looking example than mine but, I did my best and I'm not about to re-work them. Spreading beetles like that is quite laborious in both time and method.
Eupatorus is a grand species in its own right and I am glad that you showed an example of one of those as well !
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Mar 20, 2022 10:43:52 GMT -8
I remember a giant male Chalcosoma caucasus(?) flying in to a moth trap at Khao Soi Dao, Chantaburi in the early 1980s (I don't remember which year or month for sure, but I guess it was July-August). I assisted Col. Mike Allen who had some visitors from the UK including Tony Harman. Mike had to rent 2 cars and so I was roped in as a driver for the second car and to translate Thai.
Here in Chiang Mai E. gracllicornis used to come to light quite often in season (August-September), mainly females.
Adam.
|
|
