Macrodontia cervicornis

Macrodontia cervicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the largest beetles, with known specimens exceeding 17 cm in length. Part of this length is due to the enormous mandibles, from which it derives both of the names in its binomen: Macrodontia means "long tooth", and cervicornis means "deer antler". (Average male length: 13 to 14 cm. Average female length: 10 to 11 cm. Maximum length: 16.5 cm). Most of this species’ life is spent in the larval stage, which can last up to 10 years, while its adult phase is likely to last no more than a few months during which time dispersal and reproduction take place. The female lays eggs under the bark of dead or dying softwood trees, and once hatched, the larvae burrow into the rotting wood, creating extensive galleries over a metre long and 10 cm wide. The larvae of M. cervicornis are extremely large, reaching up to 21 cm in length and, unusually for beetle larvae, are coloured brown rather than white.