We found this huge beetle (about an inch and a half long). After catching and putting it in a plastic container it got mad and scrambled around for a while before pointing its head down, sticking up its abdomen, and pushing out a white/lightish color rod-shaped thing with with a forked end, each side of which able to wiggle independently.This projection extended out maybe a quarter/half inch and then disappeared back into the beetle's abdomen. So, what sort of beetle is this and what was it just doing?
Pic of beetle: http://i.imgur.com/RsyXN.jpg
Here's another picture, along with the weird projection: http://i.imgur.com/bh5i9.jpg
Pic of beetle: http://i.imgur.com/RsyXN.jpg
Here's another picture, along with the weird projection: http://i.imgur.com/bh5i9.jpg
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That is a large longhorn beetle, I would say a female in the subfamily Prionidae. I'm not nearly good enough at insect ID to go any farther than that with certainty, sorry.
The strange rodlike projection was probably her ovipositor, the organ she uses to lay eggs. Be careful, large longhorn beetles in this subfamily have powerful jaws and may bite painfully. Handle her with care.
Thank you for providing photos, they make identification much easier.
The strange rodlike projection was probably her ovipositor, the organ she uses to lay eggs. Be careful, large longhorn beetles in this subfamily have powerful jaws and may bite painfully. Handle her with care.
Thank you for providing photos, they make identification much easier.