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Post by trehopr1 on Aug 28, 2014 0:30:03 GMT -8
Is Peru having a bumper crop year for this species or what? In just the last week on "Collector's Secret" I saw 3 Super-size "Macs" for sale. They were listed at 16.2, 16.9, and 17.1 cms.... I'm almost embarrassed to say that I have a paultry 15.2 cm. specimen. But, seriously I know anything in the fifteen something's is still impressive and awe inspiring. However, do this many true giants come around each year? The prices on those items seemed to be somewhere between 400-800 U.S. dollars. That seems to me a bit low given the rarity of such behemoths. If anyone has any photo's of their personal Macrodontia prize (or pride) then please post it for us (with measurements). Any other factoids regarding this AWESOME coleopteran would also be much appreciated. Thank you. Macrodontia for sale on Collector's Secret : www.collector-secret.com/insect/coleoptera/macrodontia/ |
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Post by bichos on Aug 28, 2014 18:08:29 GMT -8
Well, do they not infest balsa wood plantations? I'm guessing collecting these could be increasing as awareness spreads and the internet allows people to offload them at better prices. So, probably not necessarily more common, just more collecting and better techniques as collectors realize their potential value. You must remember that 400-800 usd in Peru goes a long way...so many people can be employed to find the 160mm + giants.
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Post by bichos on Aug 28, 2014 18:10:17 GMT -8
Mine is 130mm btw and I'm happy as it's symetrical and nicely set, he doesn't dwarf the rest of my prionids either.
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Post by trehopr1 on Aug 28, 2014 23:29:18 GMT -8
Thank you Bichos for your input. I'm not sure if your comment regarding balsa wood plantations is a factoid or humor of a sort. But, I have it noted in a brief paper on the species that it's deposition of eggs only takes place on the Unguravia palm. It surprises me that their has been so little interest in this thread. I mean come on 68 views and only one beetle man replies! Is this fantastic creature just regarded nowadays as common fodder--- not worth discussion? You would think that I posed this question on a lepi thread. I know every guy and his brother has probably got at least one representative specimen in their collection but, p l e a s e ! ! ! We are talking about THE beetle which is the "incarnate representation" of the T-Rex of all beetles. Even though in reality Tiger Beetles actually fill that role !
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arumi
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Post by arumi on Aug 29, 2014 8:51:02 GMT -8
Yes, i also was surprised with this 171 mm and other >160 specimens on ebay.
as i know 178mm it's a record size for this species
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Post by dynastinae on Aug 29, 2014 19:11:04 GMT -8
I've not posted for a long time. But I'm tempted to make a response to this tread. I've been following Macrodontia cervicornis for many years. In the past, I would say a 170+ mm beast shows up every 8 years or so. But 2013-2014 have just been down right crazy, either there are really more monsters this year, or more local collectors put in more efforts to catch them. In July of 2013, I bought a 171 mm male. Just a couple of months later, another local collector caught another 171 mm. That one was sold on E-bay for about $2,000 USD. Just a couple more months later, another one showed up on Ebay. That one was sold for about $1,800. Amazingly, a few more showed up in the proceeding months! All in all, 2013-2014 witnessed AT LEAST 6 Macrodontia over 170 mm! Those are the 170+ mm monsters. Without saying, those in the 160 mm class are almost everywhere. Of course, the price came down. The very recent one on E-bay went for $910 USD. www.ebay.com/itm/CERAMBYCIDAE-Prioninae-Macrodontia-cervicornis-male-A1-171mm-FROM-LORETO-PERU-/121415533065?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c44ee0209This one is mine:  PS. I should say, many of the giant Macrodontia offered on Ebay are fresh and moist specimens. After drying, they lose 1-2 mm. |
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Post by trehopr1 on Aug 29, 2014 23:01:56 GMT -8
Many thanks for your input Dynastinae! I really do appreciate the knowledge you have passed along. That specimen you have is absolutely STUNNING and AWESOME
at the same time ! ! You are e x t r e m e l y fortunate to own such a BEAST. A beastie that size would un-equivocally be the centerpiece of my collection. Bravo.......
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Post by wollastoni on Aug 30, 2014 2:04:16 GMT -8
I agree that 2014 has been a crazy year for these monsters (and for other Prionids too).
I also think it comes from local catchers who have understood that they can make a real living my finding those record beasts.
But if record sized specimen offer diminish in the future, it would be interesting to study whether 2014 was a special climatic year or not.
We will see.
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Post by dynastinae on Aug 30, 2014 14:14:06 GMT -8
It's a bittersweet situation.
I had spent almost my entire life looking for a 17 cm beetle (either Dynastes or Macrodontia). I was never able to get one, either somebody beat me to it, or it was too expensive. In fact, in 1999, I lost $1,600 USD to a scammer who said he had caught a 19 cm Dynastes (I know; I was young, naive, and stupid).
So when I finally saw this first 171 mm Macrodontia in 2013, I jumped on it holding nothing back. I knew if I missed it again, it would be another decade before I get a second chance.
But then, they just came ONE AFTER ANOTHER. I was shocked, still am. There are not supposed to be this many!!
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Post by bichos on Aug 31, 2014 2:39:50 GMT -8
It's a bittersweet situation. I had spent almost my entire life looking for a 17 cm beetle (either Dynastes or Macrodontia). I was never able to get one, either somebody beat me to it, or it was too expensive. In fact, in 1999, I lost $1,600 USD to a scammer who said he had caught a 19 cm Dynastes (I know; I was young, naive, and stupid). So when I finally saw this first 171 mm Macrodontia in 2013, I jumped on it holding nothing back. I knew if I missed it again, it would be another decade before I get a second chance. But then, they just came ONE AFTER ANOTHER. I was shocked, still am. There are not supposed to be this many!! Lol, you know we're all wondering how much you payed for your 171. Regardless, you weren't to know... |
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Post by wollastoni on Sept 3, 2014 13:24:11 GMT -8
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Post by bichos on Sept 4, 2014 4:49:12 GMT -8
Be CAREFUL! Some sellers from Peru still manage to scam. Coleoptera-le is no longer a registered user and they too had giant macrodontia for sale. People wait, after the 30 days item expires and you can no longer claim it... Seller does a runner and opens up a new account with the same specimen...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 15:51:07 GMT -8
I believe that Coleoptera-le was infact loreto-peru but made a new ebay account due to the fact that he lost his 100% feedback status. I purchsaed a 121mm female from him along with many other specimens which were always fresh and in good order. I think that you were right when you said that the collectors there realised just how much money is to be made in the insect trade. i got offered 100 specimens of megasoma actaeon from loreto peru so it seems that they are out there and doing some major hunting.
pete
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Post by wollastoni on Sept 11, 2014 10:40:13 GMT -8
Chatting with a Peruvian entomologist, I have understood that many Peruvian dealers arrived on Ebay this year for the simple reason that Paypal is available in Peru from few months.
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Post by Borja Gómez on Sept 11, 2014 18:45:25 GMT -8
Hello I have been also watching this huge Macrodontia specimens that came out recently. I guess there must be some kind of reasonable explantation to the sudden appearence of many extreme sized specimens in market. Probably you guys pointed some of them, like extremely good year for this species due to climatic conditions, or that some local hunter or hunters found a great spot or a good subpopulation to get such big specimens. An interesting point would be to contrast the data of all those big Macrodontias, but unfortunately that can't be done since those specimens belong to different persons wich not necessarily will read this thread and that often for tropical insects collected by local hunters the data is not very precise. Another thing that I wondered when I saw those big Macrodontia is, why is Titanus giganteus still being considered the biggest coleoptera on earth? As far as I know, the biggest Titanus with a reliable measurement, measures 16,7cm. Yes, yes, I know, probably the females are bigger than males, there are just few females collected, etc... but, with data in hand, nowadays, and until a bigger Titanus comes to light and can proof a bigger size, Macrodontia cervicornis should be considered the biggest on earth, yes or no? And I'm talking of size, understanding size as the length of the beetle from tip of the mandible to the tip of the elytra (not tip of adbomen). A 15 cm Titanus looks much more massive and has bigger mass than a 15,5cm Macrodontia, but, the reality is that the size of Macrodontia is bigger in my opinion  Regards |
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