The elephant beetle (Megasoma elephas) belongs to the subfamily Dynastinae of the family Scarabaeidae. They are rhinoceros beetles from the Neotropics.
Appearance
- Elephant beetles have a covering of tiny, microscopic hairs and are completely black in appearance.
- The beetle’s elytra have extremely dense hair growth.
- The beetle’s body is colored yellow by the hairs.
- Males have two horns that stick out of their heads and one that sticks out of their prothorax.
- Females are hornless. The males compete for food and mates while using their horns for defense.
Size
- The largest male of this beetle known measures 13.7 cm in length with the horn.
- With elephant beetles normally measuring between 7 and 12 cm (2.75-4.75 in).
Location
The jungles of South America, Southern Mexico and Central America are home to elephant beetles.
Diet
Elephant beetles consume the sap of specific trees and mature falling fruits as part of their diet. They also consume exotic fruits in captivity, including pineapple, lychee, longan and bark from several trees.
Breeding
Depending on the subspecies, elephant beetle larvae might take up to 3 years to mature into adult beetles when they are found in massive decaying logs. The female elephant beetle in the ground or inside the rotting log lays the eggs. The eggs then develop into C-shaped larvae. The larval stage, which lasts about 29 months, is when the grubs are eating organic material. At a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius, the third and final stage, as the pupa formation, lasts for around 5 weeks.
Lifespan
A mature elephant beetle has a lifespan of one to three months.
Habitat and behavior
Elephant beetles are nocturnal creatures that inhabit jungles. Even in colder conditions, they can forage while maintaining a high body temperature.
Due to fewer places for mating due to the degradation of the rainforests, the population of elephant beetles has decreased. Some nations in Central America, use the male skull as a charm necklace that is adorned with gold. This has had a significant impact on the populace.
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