The Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) is the longest in the world rhinoceros beetle, the male may reach 170 mm in length and wingspan of 22 centimeters deployed. A nightmare for entomophobes (entomophobie = fear of insects).

Rhinoceros beetle larvae feed on roots, wood or decaying vegetable matter in the soil. The larva Dynastes hercules is ten centimeters long and weighs up to one hundred twenty grams. After the larval period, which lasts several years.

it turns into pupa which an adult (or imago) emerges.

© Anthony Corbin
image source: http://anthonycorbin.ifrance.com/

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OTHER GIANT INSECTS

titanus-giganteus

The titanus-giganteus is the largest Cerambycidae (longhorn) of the Amazon rainforest. It is also candidate for the biggest insect in the world with a size exceeding 15 cm (the largest discovered titanus measured 16.7 cm).
Caution: make sure your luggage when you return from Brazil, a Titanus giganteus may have found refuge, this is what happened in February 2009 to Geneva. More

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The Lepidoptera are also in the gigantic

Ornithoptera alexandrae

The largest butterfly day butterfly is the Queen Alexandra (Ornithoptera alexandrae) of size up to 30 cm.

image source: http://www.zooland.ro/Stiati_ca_-5106.html

thysannia-agrippina

Thysania agrippina is a moth from South America with the largest wingspan in the world, up almost 30 cm.

image source: http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/15/worlds-weirdest-moths

A video on the butterfly, it is visible towards the end and slightly damaged but it gives an idea of its size: http://www.insectnet.com/videos/field-latest1.html

Coscinocéra Hercules

image source: www.entomology.clara.co.uk / pictures.html

the caterpillar Coscinocéra Hercules can reach the impressive size of 17 cm

image source: http://www.dinosoria.com/animal_geant.htm

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Friends entomophobes do not complain. You could be born, there are 300 million years to the Carboniferous era, and having to rub Meganeura among others, a species of dragonflies with a wingspan of about 70 cm or Arthopleuras of millipedes the size of a man

image source: http://www.dinosoria.com/prehistoric_park.htm
images taken from a BBC documentary entitled Prehistoric Park

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Now a documentary on the largest insects in the world

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4dpbc_les-plus-grands-insectes-au-monde-2_animals
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4dpiu_les-plus-grands-insectes-au-monde-3_animals

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Learn more

http://lafermeauxcoleos.free.fr: site selling live insects online
http://site.voila.fr/scarabia/index.html: site selling insects living online and advice on farming

http://lemondedesphasmes.free.fr/spip.php?article190: A page on the Phyllium giganteum (stick insect leaf-shaped) that I did not mention in the article. It can measure six inches.
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_plus_gros_insectes_du_monde
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attacus_atlas
http://yos.waterbug.info/tag/tagE1.html: nepes site on the giant, they can reach 12 cm in length and are capable of attacking frogs.

1. : Arken, June 4, 2008:

   Impressive what Mother Nature could create. Anyway, I hope never to cross one of these creatures ^ ^

2. : Clem, August 20, 2008:

   Just to complete this remarkable form, like this blog, the Hercules beetle lives on the French territory, Guadeloupe (after when whether it is a strict endemic or not, I do not know) and Agrippina can be observed Guyana!

   @ +

3. : admin, August 21, 2008:

   thank you for your comment "Clem," it's always fun. Caring for a blog takes a long time and have a positive return from time to time it encourages .