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Post by johnnyboy on Nov 29, 2011 0:16:49 GMT -8
I don't know the giant harvestman species you describe, I'm not so clued up on non-insect invertebrates.
With regard to the largest chilopoda species, in terms of the long legged scutigera, or house centipedes, the one you have is certainly very big although I do not know the largest scutigera species.
The biggest centipedes in existence are of course the Scolopendra species. The biggest I have seen, and the biggest specimen held by the NHM in London, is a huge fat Scolopendra gigas from the West Indies (my 10 year old son Patrick was given a private viewing of the museum's giant arachnids and myriapods this summer and I went along too). The maximum body width is around 40mm and the specimen was probably close to 12" in length, incredibly chunky and has to be seen to be believed!
There are other centipedes that grow as long, or longer, but are nowhere near as fat. Some of the Asian Scolopendra reach pretty big dimensions too. There was also a newly discovered bat-catching centipede in Mexico, shown last year on a David Attenborough documentary. It was obviously very big although they didn't give the dimensions.
Johnny
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Post by lucanidae25 on Nov 29, 2011 5:04:14 GMT -8
I did a search online and found this Scolopendra galapagoensis (Galapagos giant centipede) the largest is 30-40cm 44-46cm long Habibat deployment: the Galapagos Islands Santa Cruz Island, in the coastal regions of Ecuador.  Attachments:
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Post by johnnyboy on Nov 29, 2011 10:30:34 GMT -8
There are probably three or four species that vie for the title of biggest centipede. The Neotropics seems to be the region where the real giants occur.
I kept an 8" long African blue-legged centipede as a pet in the late 1970's. I had it a couple of years and I used to feed it crickets. I didn't like the fact that I couldn't handle it with bare hands.
Johnny
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Post by lucanidae25 on Nov 30, 2011 0:59:45 GMT -8
I think this has to be the world largest Hymenoptera sp 55mm body length and 100mm wingspan but I'm not sure it's Pepsis pulszkyi or Pepsis heros?  Attachments:
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Post by johnnyboy on Nov 30, 2011 2:40:02 GMT -8
Nice female ! Your specimen isn't Pepsis heros. P. heros has all black antennae and quite broad black margins to the wings. The dark edges on the leading edge of the forewings is unusual and might indicate a possible species. Where is it from? That might help to narrow it down.
The antennae colour is an important diagnostic feature. Wing colour can be very variable, I have two colour forms of P. heros, the normal reddish wing and a chocolate coloured wing female.
Bodylength is useful although it is possible to stretch the abdominal segments quite considerably, you can make a 55mm specimen 70mm long that way.
There are several Pepsis species that reach 100mm or more in wingspan and over 50mm in bodylength, including ; P. heros, P. hyperion, P. apicata, P. albocincta, P. pluto, P. optima and P. pulszkyi you mentioned.
P. pulszkyi is quite rare, your specimen is most likely to be something else, I shall study your picture and see if I can narrow it down.
P. hyperion is actually the biggest species on average (according to Colin Vardy, the acknowledged world authority on Pepsis. He actually ID'd most of my specimens for me.
P. heros does have the biggest known females though.
My biggest P. heros has a 115mm wingspan.
Johnny
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Post by lucanidae25 on Nov 30, 2011 4:10:34 GMT -8
It's from Huanuco, Tingo Maria, Peru
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Post by johnnyboy on Nov 30, 2011 16:19:49 GMT -8
From the locality, antennae, wing colour, head size, and overall body size, looking carefully at my Vardy Pepsis guides, I am prepared to say your specimen is very likely to be Pepsis toppini. ( antennae become diffuse orange at AS3, seems to match your photo) It is only found on the Eastern watershed of the Ecuadorean and Peruvian Andes, Huanuco lies precisely there, on the eastern watershed at an average elevation of around 1700m. P. toppini is a high altitude species only found above 700 metres, however it is reasonably common where it occurs.
P. toppini is a giant species, female bodylength up to 57mm.
Johnny
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Post by lucanidae25 on Dec 1, 2011 2:16:21 GMT -8
Thanks heaps Johnny you've been really helpful.  |
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Post by dinoponera on Jan 14, 2012 6:35:35 GMT -8
That's a nice Chilopod you have there ! Did you find it in a cave ? Giant Asian species like Scutigera decipiens often live in caves. Borneo's Gomantong Cave is home to a very large and supposedly dangerous species of Scutigera. According to locals, they can grow to the size of a small dog (!!!) and deliver a very noxious bite which can drive you to the hospital or even kill you. This seems a little far-fetched, still the photos of the cave and its inhabitants can be seen on Rebecca Yale's website. www.rebeccayale.com/2011/01/gomantong-cave-my-own-personal-cave-of.html |
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Post by lucanidae25 on Jan 14, 2012 15:14:27 GMT -8
No I didn't find that Chilopod in a cave, I've found it just walking around on the ground at night after 3 days of heavy rain.
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Post by jerdankr on Mar 12, 2012 8:43:48 GMT -8
Hello all. I have been trying like mad to get my hands on some specimens of the larger flies, including any of these species. Anyone out there want to sell/ trade? I am exceedingly fascinated with all things Dipteran. Every time I am in Central America I miss that catch... fast as heck! Or just the wrong time of year maybe. Thanks all. |
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Post by johnnyboy on Mar 15, 2012 7:32:06 GMT -8
Giant timber flies are quite common where they occur but have a short lifespan and are relatively difficult to catch.
They are offered very occasionally, however, as there aren't that many fly collectors most dealers don't advertise them. I caught mine myself in Ecuador about twenty years ago.
As for the other giant fly species, especially Australian ones, they are very rarely available, for similar reasons. I know of a Blepharotes sp.offered recently, for over $1000 for one fly! Some Japanese and German collectors will pay this kind of money.
Johnny
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