It is Titanus giganteus…the “Titan” beetle.   These insects can be found in tropical rainforests, along the equator in South America.

The adults only live a few weeks and can be up to 6.5 inches (16.7 cm) long.  The larvae, or grubs, live considerably longer and feed underground on rotting wood in the soil.   These insects are important for recycling dead wood into humus.  


                                                                                             Photo credit: Whitney Cranshaw