Pet Beetle (Dorysthenes walkeri) by Richard Calmes

Richard Calmes | all galleries >> Galleries >> VIETNAM WAR 1968-1969 > Pet Beetle (Dorysthenes walkeri)

Pet Beetle (Dorysthenes walkeri)

My thanks to Harold Schillhammer, a pbase member and an Entomologist at the Natural History museum in Vienna, for identifying this creature for me! He says it is a rather common beetle in SE Asia. I only saw the one.

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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Guest		30-Mar-2022 02:37
Never saw any large bugs..but, if you put food in your locker...you would find a million tiny ants on it in the morning. Phu Bai, Camp Eagle.

Guest		09-Sep-2013 05:31
Looking for roger jones he was in Vietnam War he turn 70 non may 26

Johnny Barraza		16-Aug-2013 04:26
My insect story goes this way. Back in 1967,

Guest		16-Aug-2013 04:19
Youas my insect story goes, back in 1967 , Can Rang Bay had super large centipede

Patrick McGinley		06-Feb-2012 20:54
When I saw the huge beetle, I had the MommaSan hold it down with her hand to have a comparison in size.

Jim Lev		04-May-2011 17:57
Rich, you should add a picture that shows the size of the rats!

Paul F. Cordero		01-Apr-2011 20:50
I was a welder in Vietnam (1969-70) when one day as I welded some item I felt someone tapping me on the shoulder. I removed my welding mask; looked around but no one was there. I started welding again, and again someone kept tapping me on my shoulder. I took my mask off and again and no one was there. I then again began to weld and the same thing occurred. I quickly took off my mask inorder to catch whoever, I thought, was playing a game with me. Wow, I took my mask off and noticed that I had an extremely large beetle tapping me with his antennas on my shoulder. I paniced as I have never seen such a LARGE insect in my life. After recovering from my initial shock I knoced it off my shoulder and stepped on it but it refused to die, therefore I stepped and stepped on it as hard as I could until I saw yellowish liquid coming from its body and it stopped moving. I have never forgotten that scary moment of many that I had while in Vietnam.

Guest		05-Dec-2010 02:03
Woah!

wahyunita		03-Jun-2010 02:53
wow! i've never been see it before!!!!

jacqirie bowman		03-May-2010 21:26
this is a good beetle

cits_4_pets		25-Jun-2009 19:04
Oh, S*&^!,,,I am outa there! I prefer walking dogs... this is one scary beetle...hope you had fun walking it! good shot

ron barton		30-Mar-2008 17:56
i had one of these beetles land on my naked shoulder one afternoon while playing cards with the boys of mass 2, and my pants were never the same

Kees Terberg		01-Jul-2007 17:41
Holy sugar... what a monster...

Anthony Pizzino		08-Feb-2007 18:11
I'm looking for a pet hercules beetle. could you help me?

Guest		21-Jan-2007 02:19
Harold is a great guy, and knows his bugs! I have to say, this is the first beetle I've ever seen on a leash. Amazing shots in each gallery, thanks so much for sharing.

carol j. phipps		15-Jan-2007 02:21
Oh my goodness!!!

Guest		14-Jan-2007 20:23
Richard, this has to be practically unique in the annals of photography. Very funny and somehow touching.

Rob Rosetti		08-Aug-2006 18:28
Impressive!! Roberto

Jen Bixler		11-Jun-2006 02:44
Not very cuddly!

Guest		02-May-2006 12:32
aah, pet beetle. I thought it was a NVA spy

Michaval		08-Mar-2006 11:09
Very graceful. He is walking his mascot

Guest		25-Nov-2005 01:03
Is that a piece of string? looks fearsome!!

type		21-Nov-2005 21:04
!

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