What is this HUGE beetle?

[Jimmy]

Hello,

Take a look at this:

Please help me out if you can identify this one! This giant beetle, around four inches long, wound up on our lighted doorstep the other night. It's pretty cool! (Hehe)

Also, feel free to post comments!

Regards,

Jimmy

 

[SirKristoff]

Click beetle!!!!
atleast i think lol

errr nvm. lol

 

[upper]

dont get mad, get glad!

 

[Seandew]

A type of Longicorn.

 

[herenorthere]

Given that you live in the state of Roswell and White Sands, I'm surpised the beetle wasn't twice as big and glowing.

 

[Jaytab]

It's some sort of longhorn beetle, I find those sometimes. I wouldnt pick it up though, they can bite hard lol.

 

[Nepfreak]

Giant root borer, a male.

 

[Fryster]

That's on big beetle!

Looks like something drawn in a Calvin & Hobbs strip.

 

[Goofzilla]

Wow! That's a cool looking insect

 

[Not a Number]

Palo Verde root borer
Derobrachus geminatus

 

[Nepfreak]

In N. Carolina? It says it's native to the southwest. Definitely some sort of giant root borer, I'm pretty sure that common name covers a bunch of species, kinda like "pitcher plant." I'm not coming up with this stuff on my own by the way, audubon society field guide all the way! That thing is huge.

 

[Jaytab]

N. Carolina? He is in New Mexico.

 

[philcula]

That does look like it could take out a healthy chunk of flesh. Did you let it go?

 

[Not a Number]

http://www.myrmecos.net/insects/Derobrachus1.html
http://www.tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=4421#Coleoptera (scroll down a bit) - this site says they squeak and can cause painful bites.

Alex Wild was with the Department of Entomology U of Arizona (UC Davis at the time photos were taken). His blog says he's moving to the Entomology Department at Champaign-Urbana U of Illinois

 

[Nepfreak]

oops! NaN is probably right then!

 

[joossa]

That would make an excellent specimen for a collection. I am finding smaller versions of what you have here where I live.

 

[Jimmy]

Yep, it's definitely a Palo Verde Borer, thanks for the ID NaN!

Yep, whenever it tries to get out of its container it tries to chew at the slick walls to no avail. But I won't be handling it by hand anytime soon. Those mandibles do look like they could deliver a painful bite! Plus, I saw it try a few times to fly while in its container.

Well, I'm not going to let it go, I'm keeping it for a collection of interesting insects that I've been finding locally and in the nearby mountains. With mantids, desert cicadas, sphinx moths, and this giant beetle, It's bound to be pretty darn cool, with no shortage of large bugs!!!

 

[flytraplady5]

where i come from they call that a jabber walkie.LOL