Ox beetle
Encyclopedia
The ox beetle, Strategus aloeus, is a species of rhinoceros beetle
. The "major" males of this species have three large horns on the thorax, resembling the Triceratops
. The "minor" males have horns as well, but the two back ones are small and the frontal horn is much shorter than the horn in major males. Female ox beetles have a very short horn which has little use in fighting but is used for digging in the ground. These beetles grow to be around 1"-1.5" inches long as adults when the horns are excluded in the males.
Although this species occurs in the United States, its populations are much higher in Mexico, Central America and parts of South America.
The larvae of this species feeds on roots in the ground, while the adults feed on flowers and all sorts of fruit. The larvae take around 4–6 months to reach the pupal stage. The pupal stage can be shortened in captivity when placing the pupae in a warm room or near any warmth. The adults are active from May-November, and during this time both males and females try to mate. These beetles are very common near lights in the summer and can be collected in large numbers in some areas. The larvae of these beetles are sometimes considered a pest because they can damage lawns and gardens by feeding on the roots.
Rhinoceros beetle
The Rhinoceros Beetles or Rhino Beetles are a subfamily of the scarab beetle family . Other common names – some for particular groups of rhino beetles – are for example Hercules beetles, unicorn beetles or horn beetles...
. The "major" males of this species have three large horns on the thorax, resembling the Triceratops
Triceratops
Triceratops is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaur which lived during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period, around 68 to 65 million years ago in what is now North America. It was one of the last dinosaur genera to appear before the great Cretaceous–Paleogene...
. The "minor" males have horns as well, but the two back ones are small and the frontal horn is much shorter than the horn in major males. Female ox beetles have a very short horn which has little use in fighting but is used for digging in the ground. These beetles grow to be around 1"-1.5" inches long as adults when the horns are excluded in the males.
Although this species occurs in the United States, its populations are much higher in Mexico, Central America and parts of South America.
The larvae of this species feeds on roots in the ground, while the adults feed on flowers and all sorts of fruit. The larvae take around 4–6 months to reach the pupal stage. The pupal stage can be shortened in captivity when placing the pupae in a warm room or near any warmth. The adults are active from May-November, and during this time both males and females try to mate. These beetles are very common near lights in the summer and can be collected in large numbers in some areas. The larvae of these beetles are sometimes considered a pest because they can damage lawns and gardens by feeding on the roots.
External links
- Strategus aloeus photos at Beetlespace.wz.cz
- Strategus aloeus photos at BugGuide
- Strategus aloeus photos at Goliathus.com