Longest beetle body (species)

The longest species of beetle in terms of body size alone is the titan beetle Titanus giganteus of South America, with an average body length of 15 cm (6 in). Females are slightly smaller, measuring 12.4–15 cm.

The largest reliably measured male titan specimen was collected in January 1989 by Patrick Bleuzen in French Guiana and was measured at 16.7 cm (6.5 in) long when dried. It was probably slightly longer when alive.

In terms of total length, the hercules beetle Dynastes hercules (the largest of the "rhinoceros" beetles, also of South America) measure 17 cm (7 in) long, owing to a long pair of horns – one extending from the head, the other from the thorax.