Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2013 21:10:07 GMT -8
 As many of you know, when certain horned beetles reach the upper limit of their size potential, there can be very pronounced horn development. There have been a few threads related to this in the past, but I would like to invite you to show off your trophy specimens. Some beetles, like Callipogon sericeum, don't even resemble the same species when they get to be giants. The cacicus on the left is 95 mm in it's "unnatural position", and I am very pleased to own such a wonderful specimen. It would be interesting to see well developed Coleoptera of the lesser known or smaller species as well, and I look forward to seeing them. |
|
|
|
|
|
Post by megagyas on Dec 16, 2013 4:39:31 GMT -8
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2013 6:57:24 GMT -8
Quite impressive megagyas  It would be a rude awakening to have one of those titanus crawl in your tent at night |
|
|
|
Post by megagyas on Dec 16, 2013 8:26:36 GMT -8
Actually, these giants are heard before they are seen. Most of the ones that I have personally captured in French Guiana fly into the vegetation at the periphery of the light source, and one can hear them flying and landing in the undergrowth. Often one can find them crawling around on the ground at the outer margin of the light field. One of my friends, however, had a Titanus land on his head while he was collecting moths at the sheet- no kidding!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2013 9:17:17 GMT -8
I'm sure it was quite a frantic situation for your friend lol when i was living in Mississippi, I had a flying wood cockroach land on my face and that was bad enough. I'm curious if Titanus use their mandibles primarily for fighting or self defense from predators? Most beetles use their horns for prying or picking up opponents, but it seems like a Titanus duel would be more brutal with dismembered limbs and such. I heard they don't feed as adults, so I've always wondered.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2013 17:05:58 GMT -8
 117 mm Megasoma occidentalisNot the biggest out there but the cephalic horn development is impressive Sorry for the bad image quality. The Nikon went with the ex girlfriend, but I should be getting another one shortly |
|
|
|
|
|
Post by bandrow on Dec 16, 2013 18:37:35 GMT -8
A new camera... or a new girlfriend?   |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2013 19:34:50 GMT -8
I've already taken care of the latter  and she likes beetles but there's a prenup in that area   |
|
|
|
Post by flithops on Jan 5, 2014 8:10:07 GMT -8
Nice specimens, especially the hercules hercules. They looked like bred specimens from distance, but I see the label say 1968!? Where did you get those?
|
|
|
|
Post by megagyas on Jan 8, 2014 2:44:14 GMT -8
I was doing graduate work at N.Y.U. and had a good friend who worked at the Butterfly Company in Far Rockaway. He was an expert on the D. hercules complex and authored a paper with a gentleman re: these beetles from Guadeloupe. In fact, the small D. h. reidi is named in his honor. That large specimen of D. h.h. was not bred, but was given to me by Bill many years ago and has the original data from 1968.
|
|
|
|
Post by dynastinae on Jan 9, 2014 9:50:38 GMT -8
Just got this pupa a couple of days ago. It is D. h. h. It is expected to become a 165-167 mm imago sometime in March, 2014. I will keep you updated. Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by megagyas on Jan 9, 2014 10:23:25 GMT -8
Looks great- Keep us posted!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2014 20:12:18 GMT -8
It appears the imago will have an impressive horn dynastinae. I hope everything goes well and he emerges healthy.
On a side note, I would like to say I've enjoyed reading your various publications. It will be interesting to see where beetle breeding goes in the future.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2014 20:34:55 GMT -8
Very nice lucanidae. You must have a large and impressive collection!
|
|
|
|
Post by lucanidae25 on Jan 9, 2014 20:39:49 GMT -8
|
|
It would be a rude awakening to have one of those titanus crawl in your tent at night 
and she likes beetles but there's a prenup in that area 
