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Unstoppable


Unstoppable
Photo Information
Copyright: dean williams (geodean) Silver Note Writer [C: 1 W: 0 N: 15] (168)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-02-03
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon DSLR D200, Nikon 60mm F/2.8 macro
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-02-04 23:04
Viewed: 993
Points: 5
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I do not know the name of this beetle, maybe someone can help. The locals call them “bichos locos” crazy bugs. And after seeing them is action is a pretty good description too. They are like little six wheel tanks, completely unstoppable and fast. They are big too. I saw one three inches long. For scale, it is a 25 lt bucket from which this one is hanging in the photo You can see them crossing the highway in front of you while driving at 100 km/hr.

I have never seen a beetle this large before. I was joking with another geologist that maybe their size was related to the naturally occurring uranium in this part of Chubut Province. A bit of a Godzilla analogy.
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To Osmeterium: Beetlegeodean 1 02-05 06:39
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Dean,
Excellent macro! Very good details, though the focus is not on its head, but on its back. Colors are also very good. Too bad the background is not a grass or something like that. Well done.

Regards,
Shahar.

Hello Dean,

I think this is a male of a pretty rare longhorn beetle from the genus Apterocaulus (Cerambycidae, Prioninae, Prionini). According to the 2005 list by Miguel A. Monne and (late) Frank T. Hovore, there's only one species, A. germainei with one subsp., A. germainei durnfordii (South Argentina, Chile), while Antonio Santos-Silva (Rev. Bras. Zool., vol.20 no.3, 2003) says that Apterocaulus germainei is synonym of A. heterogama. I think we should use the newer combination, that is, Apterocaulus germainei.

Best regards,
Dmitry

That so pretty colors, very good clearness and excellent work, greetings.

  • Good 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3824 W: 190 N: 11393] (35107)
  • [2007-02-05 7:13]

Hi Dean,
This is a remarkable capture of a longhorn totally new to me. This shot is sharp and well presented even if the BG is less desirable. Nice that Dmitry could ID it.
If you wanted to arrange the shot by choosing the BG yourself without the beetle running away, you could put him in the fridge to cool him down first before placing him on a suitablr BG.
TFS this fine beetle!
Regards, Ivan

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