Titan Beetle
Titanus giganteus
-2.15, -77.69
Field Notes
Description:
Titanus giganteus is the only species in the genus Titanus. It is a longhorn beetle and is considered to be the largest beetle (16.7 cm). If you count the head appendage of the Hercules Beetle (Dynastes hercules), the Hercules Beetle (17.5 cm) wins . . . by a nose :-) This individual was a smallish one about 12-13 cm. The Titan Beetle's body (wings) and legs are uniformly deep chestnut colored. The thorax, head and antennae are black. And the mandible, too. Let's not forget the mandiles on this character (foto #2) They are strong enough to break a pencil. Ouch, to say the least.
Habitat:
Titan beetles are found in the rainforests of South America from Venezuela and the Guianas south through Colombia, Ecuador and into Peru, and east to Northwestern Brazil. This specimen was found early morning under a light in the Amazon rainforest of SE Ecuador.
Notes:
Little is known of the larval stage of these beetles but it is thought they live in trees and may take several years to develop completely. If the boreholes that have been attributed to the Titan larvae are indeed theirs, they measure over 2" across (5 1/2 cm). I didn't know about this video when I posted my Hercules Beetle https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/209242443. Please take time to watch how a Beetle is "born." It is incredible. - https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/00000163-4f88-d2fa-a76b…
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