
Home > Terms > English, UK (UE) > Rhinoceros beetles
Rhinoceros beetles
A subfamily of the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae). Other common names – some for particular groups of rhinoceros beetles – are for example Hercules beetles, unicorn beetles or horn beetles. Over 300 species of rhinoceros beetles are known.
Many rhinoceros beetles are well known for their unique shapes and large sizes. Some famous species are, for example, the Atlas beetle (Chalcosoma atlas), common rhinoceros beetle (Xylotrupes ulysses), elephant beetle (Megasoma elephas), European rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes nasicornis), Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules), Japanese rhinoceros beetle or kabutomushi (Allomyrina dichotoma), ox beetle (Strategus aloeus) and the unicorn beetle (Dynastes tityus).
They are among the largest of beetles, reaching more than 150 mm (6 in) in length, but are completely harmless to humans because they cannot bite or sting. They have been documented to support items up to 100 times their own weight. Their common names refer to the characteristic horns borne only by the males of most species in the group. Each has a horn on the thorax and another horn pointing forward from the centre thorax. The horns are used in fighting other males during mating season, and for digging. The size of the horn is a good indicator of nutrition and physical health.
The body of an adult rhinoceros beetle is covered by a thick exoskeleton. A pair of thick wings lay atop another set of membranous wings underneath, allowing the rhinoceros beetle to fly, although not very efficiently, owing to its large size and large horns. Their best protection from predators is their size and stature. Additionally, since they are nocturnal, they avoid many of their predators during the day. When the sun is out, they hide under logs or in vegetation to camouflage themselves from the few predators big enough to want to eat them. If rhinoceros beetles are disturbed, some can release very loud, hissing squeaks. The hissing squeaks are created by rubbing their abdomens against the ends of their wing covers. Rhinoceros beetles are rather well-protected, and the adults usually live two to four months, and occasionally longer.
These beetles' larval stages can be several years long. The larvae feed on rotten wood and the adults feed on nectar, plant sap and fruit. First, the larvae hatch from eggs and later develop into pupae before they reach adult status (see picture at left). The females lay 50 eggs on average. Contrary to what their size may imply, adult rhinoceros beetles do not eat large amounts, unlike their larvae, which eat a significant amount of rotting wood.
Rhinoceros beetles are popular as pets in parts of Asia, needed in part due to their being clean, easy to maintain and safe to handle. Also in Asia, male beetles are used for gambling fights. Since males naturally have the tendency to fight each other for the attention of females, they are the ones used for battle. To get the two male beetles to lock in combat, a female beetle or a small noisemaker is used to duplicate the female's mating call.
Entomologist Séverin Tchibozo suggests the larvae contain much more protein (40%), than chicken (20%) and beef (approximately 18%) and they could become a protein source for a large [1] population.
Some species can become major pests, e.g., in tree plantations. Usually though, beetle population densities are not as high as in some other pest insects, and food trees which are typically already sick or dying from some other cause are preferred. Some species' larvae, however, will attack healthy trees or even root vegetables, and when they occur in large numbers, can cause economically significant damage. The fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is a proven biocontrol agent for beetle infestation in crops in an environment friendly way.
Dr. MinJun Kim, leading a team of engineers in National Science Foundation-funded research, examined the function and aerodynamics of the Allomyrina dichotoma beetle, with the help of researchers in Drexel University's Mechanical Engineering Department and in collaboration with Konkuk University in South Korea. Rhinoceros beetles could play a big part in the next generation of aircraft design.
Other Languages:
Member comments
Terms in the News
Featured Terms
phylum placozoa
Macroscopic, flattened marine animals, composed of ventral and dorsal epithelial layers enclosing ...
phylum cnidaria
Cnidarians. Hydras, hydroids, jellyfish, sea anemones, and corals. Free-swimming or sessile, with ...
share a term with millions
Share a term with millions of users around the world and increase your online visibility.Share a ...
oak
Genus native to the Northern Hemisphere with spirally arranged leaves, catkins for flowers and ...
Everest
The last but not least mount Everest. The Earth's highest mountain, with a peak at 8,848 metres ...
aglaonema
Genus of about 20 species of usually rhizomatous, evergreen perennials from tropical forest in Asia. ...
Robojelly
Robojelly is a hydrogen-powered robot desgined in the United States that moves through the water ...
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche (3 September 1875 – 30 January 1951) was an Austrian-German automotive engineer ...
Marzieh Afkham
Marzieh Afkham, who is the country’s first foreign ministry spokeswoman, will head a mission in east ...
define1
Share a term with millions of users around the world and increase your online visibility.Share a ...
Contributor
Featured blossaries
Silentchapel
0
Terms
95
Blossaries
10
Followers
Apple Mergers and Acquisitions


stanley soerianto
0
Terms
107
Blossaries
6
Followers
Top 5 Free Things To See In Venice


Browers Terms By Category
- SAT vocabulary(5103)
- Colleges & universities(425)
- Teaching(386)
- General education(351)
- Higher education(285)
- Knowledge(126)
Education(6837) Terms
- Material physics(1710)
- Metallurgy(891)
- Corrosion engineering(646)
- Magnetics(82)
- Impact testing(1)
Materials science(3330) Terms
- Osteopathy(423)
- Acupuncture(18)
- Alternative psychotherapy(17)
- Ayurveda(9)
- Homeopathy(7)
- Naturopathy(3)
Alternative therapy(489) Terms
- Alcohol & Hydroxybenzene & Ether(29)
- Pigments(13)
- Organic acids(4)
- Intermediates(1)
Organic chemicals(47) Terms
- Journalism(537)
- Newspaper(79)
- Investigative journalism(44)