by non-professional entomologists. The authors of
the report went on to state: ‘It should be mentioned
that French Guiana is among the last countries in
South America that has no constraining regulation
on collecting insects over the whole territory. With
no major impact on insect conservation, this has
clearly favoured contributions to the description of
the fauna from the amateur community, and also the
collection of material, including by insect dealers, a
part of which has been the basis for many significant
taxonomic works.’ It can only be hoped that increas-
ingly draconian approaches to non-professional
insect collecting in Australia fail to gain traction.
The next exciting frontier in the Titanus story will be
the discovery of its larvae, and I can't wait until some
intrepid beetle enthusiast finally unearths and
photographs some. They will be much more massive
than the adults and will truly deserve the title of the
largest insects on earth.
Further Reading.
I have pretty much summarised all that
is known about Titanus for this article
(from brief references in books, online
essays and even blogs on collector sites),
but the following are essential reading
for anyone interested in this topic.
Zahl, P. A. 1959, Giant insects of the
Amazon. The National Geographic
Magazine CXV (5): 632-669.
Williams, D. M. 2001. Largest. Book of
insect records, University of Florida.
http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/walker/
ufbir/chapters/chapter_30.shtml
For more information on the giant
rhinoceros beetles see the following
book:
Weigelt, A. 2013. Professional Breeders
Series: Giant beetles of the Genera
Dynastes and Megasoma. Edition
Chimaira. Frankfurt am Main.
For more information on insect collect-
ing in French Guiana and other tropical
countries see:
Brule, S. and Touroult, J. 2014. Insects of
French Guiana: a baseline for diversity
and taxonomic effort. Zookeys 434: 111-
130.
http://www.theskepticalmoth.com/
collecting-permits/
Left: A couple of 155mm male Titanus giganteus
(centre) surrounded by the world's largest beetles,
for comparison of overall size. 1. Macrodontia
cervicornis; 2. Megasoma elephas; 3. Goliathus
orientalis; 4. Chalcosoma caucasus; 5. Dynastes
hercules; 6. Megasoma actaeon; 7. Megasoma
mars; 8. Goliathus goliathus. Photograph by David
Maynard.
Below: Many references still refer to Dynastes
hercules as the world's largest beetle, however, as
can be clearly observed on this specimen from
Panama, half this beetle’s length is comprised of a
long, narrow thoracic horn. Photograph by David
Maynard.