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World's largest flying aquatic insect has been discovered in China!
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Keyser_Soze1
09-08-2014
F**k me!

I have no idea how this news passed me by but I think it is fair to say that if you do not like moths or wasps and saw one of these monsters these flying around in your garden a heart attack would seem to be the only sane response.

I am kidding of course - I find wonderful discoveries like this really cheer me up.

The magnificent beast appears to be a form of Giant Dobsonfly - although the several videos I have seen contradict themselves over whether it is a new species or not.

For the record those gigantic pincers that the males have are only used for mating and it is totally harmless. In fact it is very useful as an indicator of water quality and pollution so there really is everything to admire and nothing to fear from this great insect.

And I, for one, welcome the arrival of our Dobsonfly overlords.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/22/wo...-insect-china/

http://phys.org/news/2014-07-museum-...fly-china.html

http://news.yahoo.com/worlds-largest...132933137.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8itKCvOC00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mydXdWNYVRc
Vernon Bennett
09-08-2014
At least it's something else they can eat.
CravenHaven
09-08-2014
still no match for a bored pussycat
exlordlucan
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by Vernon Bennett:
“At least it's something else they can eat.”

LOL you beat me to it.
Billy_Value
09-08-2014
soon to be a no 37
Keyser_Soze1
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by exlordlucan:
“LOL you beat me to it.”

If you read the comment sections on the articles many people have made this point.

But with a bit of luck they taste so foul they will be relatively safe - unless of course some tosser has the bright idea of using them for bullshit 'traditional medicine'.
Keyser_Soze1
09-08-2014
Another few articles on the gigantic new species.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/...ound-in-china/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpl6WxhZF18

http://www.viraltales.com/china-foun...-nightmares-2/
anne_666
09-08-2014
Amazing. It's so beautiful. I'd love to see it in real life. Has it not been filmed in the wild?


Laughed at he hornet's nest the size of a Volkswagon video on the first link you gave. Which model I wonder?
Keyser_Soze1
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by anne_666:
“Amazing. It's so beautiful. I'd love to see it in real life. Has it not been filmed in the wild?

Laughed at he hornet's nest the size of a Volkswagon video on the first link you gave. Which model I wonder?”

As far as I know those are the very first photographs of it Ann (although there are many videos of a smaller American relative - which is still bloody big as insects go).

As for the links I notice the pictures of the Giant Weta eating a carrot keep popping up - but they are bloody hilarious!

http://oborge.com/wp-content/uploads...iant-weta.jpeg

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/...22nn1mzjpg.jpg

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/a5/a5749...43070292e1.jpg
Asmo
09-08-2014
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXyBh__xruU
Keyser_Soze1
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by Asmo:
“www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXyBh__xruU”

That footage looks very authentic to me - why on earth has the National Geographic not got hold of such a magnificent specimen?
D_Mcd4
09-08-2014
That can fly over and do battle with Japan's Godzilla.
anne_666
09-08-2014
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/...ound-in-china/

Someone arguing in the comments section that he has recorded a 21.5 cm specimen in his book?

Quote:
“1. megaloblatta
10:11 am 07/26/2014
This is not in fact a new world record as a Megaloptera specimen with a wingspan of 21.5 cm is known. See my book “Biggest Bugs (Life-Size!)” –”

How long is their life span?
seacam
09-08-2014
What a fantastic creature.
jesaya
09-08-2014
Yes, a beautiful and amazing creature... but honestly, if one flew in your window you would have the screaming hab-dabs, wouldn't you.
Lyricalis
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by Keyser_Soze1:
“F**k me!

I have no idea how this news passed me by but I think it is fair to say that if you do not like moths or wasps and saw one of these monsters these flying around in your garden a heart attack would seem to be the only sane response.

I am kidding of course - I find wonderful discoveries like this really cheer me up.

The magnificent beast appears to be a form of Giant Dobsonfly - although the several videos I have seen contradict themselves over whether it is a new species or not.

For the record those gigantic pincers that the males have are only used for mating and it is totally harmless. In fact it is very useful as an indicator of water quality and pollution so there really is everything to admire and nothing to fear from this great insect.

And I, for one, welcome the arrival of our Dobsonfly overlords.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/22/wo...-insect-china/

http://phys.org/news/2014-07-museum-...fly-china.html

http://news.yahoo.com/worlds-largest...132933137.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8itKCvOC00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mydXdWNYVRc”

Are females supposed to find that reassuring or terrifying?
avasgranny
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by jesaya:
“Yes, a beautiful and amazing creature... but honestly, if one flew in your window you would have the screaming hab-dabs, wouldn't you.”

i was just thinking that. As much as I love animals etc etc I would seriously freak out if this appeared in my house.
Keyser_Soze1
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by anne_666:
“http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/...ound-in-china/

Someone arguing in the comments section that he has recorded a 21.5 cm specimen in his book?

How long is their life span?”

Very interesting Ann.

That looks like a very entertaining little book, but we will have to wait for more information when the species is described in the future.

As far as lifespan goes like many insects it seems the predatory aquatic larval stage lasts for several years underwater - but the adults do not live for very long once they have mated.
Keyser_Soze1
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by Lyricalis:
“Are females supposed to find that reassuring or terrifying?”

Maybe the females really like to see a male with a nice long pincer?
charlie1
09-08-2014
As lovely as that is to look at. You scroll further down the page and come across dogs that are waiting to be slaughtered for the meat trade.

The Chinese have a long, long way to go when it comes to how animals are treated for the meat trade.
Last edited by charlie1 : 09-08-2014 at 21:05
anne_666
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by Keyser_Soze1:
“Very interesting Ann.

That looks like a very entertaining little book, but we will have to wait for more information when the species is described in the future.

As far as lifespan goes like many insects it seems the predatory aquatic larval stage lasts for several years underwater - but the adults do not live for very long once they have mated.”

I know that, I meant how long after the laval stage. It's strange isn't it to live so long at that stage. I wonder why? What feeds on the lava?
Keyser_Soze1
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by anne_666:
“I know that, I meant how long after the laval stage. It's strange isn't it to live so long at that stage. I wonder why? What feeds on the lava?”

I have no idea Ann, but many insects have a long larval life and a very short adulthood.

But as far as insects go you would have to go some way to beat Titanus giganteus - the largest and possibly heaviest species in the world (although some of the elephant beetles may be as heavy or heavier and the Weta is a contender as well).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIp-d1khm_Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNeW_AxxYFU

http://frankfiedler.com/wp-content/u...1_23-19-08.jpg

http://www.nerdbb.com/download/file....3674&mode=view

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0Hm1PZE7GY...giganteus).jpg
anne_666
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by Keyser_Soze1:
“I have no idea Ann, but many insects have a long larval life and a very short adulthood.

But as far as insects go you would have to go some way to beat Titanus giganteus - the largest and possibly heaviest species in the world (although some of the elephant beetles may be as heavy or heavier and the Weta is a contender as well).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIp-d1khm_Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNeW_AxxYFU

http://frankfiedler.com/wp-content/u...1_23-19-08.jpg

http://www.nerdbb.com/download/file....3674&mode=view

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0Hm1PZE7GY...giganteus).jpg”

What a beauty!

There has to be an evolutionary reason for such a long laval stage? Food linked?
charlie1
09-08-2014
deleted.....
Keyser_Soze1
09-08-2014
Originally Posted by charlie1:
“deleted.....”

Charlie1 what's the matter?

Your inbox is full by the way.
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