Big Bodacious Bugs! Part 5

1. Ornithoptera alexandrae: Queen Alexandra's birdwing - Size: 11-inch wingspan. This species is the largest butterfly on Earth. It was named after Queen Alexandra of Britain, wife of King Edward VII, who sat on the throne at the beginning of the 20th century. It has marked sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females have very distinct appearances (thumbnail shows a male specimen), with females reaching wingspans slightly in excess of 25 to 28 cm. This birdwing is restricted to the forests of the Oro Province in eastern Papua New Guinea. Do you enjoy watching butterflies?

2. Megasoma actaeon: Actaeon beetle - Size: 5.3 inches long. This beetle gets its namesake from Actaeon, a hero of Greek mythology who was transformed into a stag. It can be found across South America, including in French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Suriname, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. The Actaeon beetle's weight depends on its life stage; its larvae can reach weights of over 200 grams, with the heaviest recorded specimen weighing 228 grams, making it the heaviest known insect. Adults weigh less, with males reaching 50 grams or more, though their weight is less impressive than their larval stage. The larvae eat decomposing leaves, rotting wood, organic matter, fruit remains and compost materials. The adult food sources are sap, fruit, nectar, leaves and plant juices. Have you ever visited any part of South America?