Five-inch elephant beetle in search of mating partner
Billy, a 5-inch-long elephant beetle that arrived in London via a banana shipment from Costa Rica, is desperate to hook up with a female before he kicks the bucket. Elephant beetles live just four months and are endangered because of rainforest decimation.
Linton Zoo director Kim Simmons said: "Billy needs to mate.Link (via Arbroath)"He is showing all the signs and keeps displaying. He bobs up and down on his branch and taps on the ground.
"He has been making the most of his new home and emits tiny mating calls. It's like he's saying 'here I am, come get me'."
Previously on Boing Boing:
• Meet the beetle
• Indian boy producing winged beetles in his urine
• 1.4 million beetles tile palace ceiling
• Republican Slime Mold Beetles
• Cross-stitch a dung-beetle!
• Beetle-inspired moisture control
• Creepy looking bug from Brazilian Boing Boing reader
• Ladybug group shot
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That chat up line never works.
If the banana inspectors didn't spot that one, it makes me wonder what else is hitching a ride on my bananas.
""He is showing all the signs and keeps displaying. He bobs up and down on his branch and taps on the ground.""
That's exactly how I show my readiness to mate! Fascinating...
Well, he certainly looks horny.
There's always craigslist.
He wouldn't be the worst looking male on there.
cute... and probably a hitherto unknown Chagas vector
i'll do it.
ever want to see a grown man mess himself? put that beetle on my arm. You will see a display you simply can not forget.
tastes like prawn, you think?
Inverse Square:
It worked for Al Green.
"If one could conclude as to the nature of the Creator from a study of creation, it would appear that God has an inordinate fondness for stars and beetles." -J. B. S. Haldane
Looks like God made that one big enough for cuddlin'!
Four months?!? Someone get that beetle some NOOKY!
What would you name a pet like that? Kafka?
has he tried the airport restrooms in Minnesoya? I hear they're crawling with huge foot-tapping roaches.
His biological clock has a second hand.
Poor guy. I love giant beetles and I feel bad that he might not be able to live the dream. =[
Gotta catch em' all?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7433077.stm
video for perspective
He knew what he was getting himself into the second he got on that banana shipment.
If he's moody and plays in a Beatles cover band (yuk yuk), then I'm willing to date him.
Maybe it's been a stupidly hard, long week... but this story depressed the fuck outta me.
Poor guy!
On the plus side, at least I'm not the only one who can't get laid.
Best "Previously on Boing Boing" list ever.
The "Save Billy" blog! Link: http://savebillythebeetle.blogspot.com/
Let's do something!
I don't suppose teaching it how to masturbate will help?
If you put that on my arm I would use a flame thower to get it off.
"Get it OFF, man. GET IT OFF!"
-Carrie