The Atlas beetle (''Chalcosoma atlas'') is a very large species of beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, found in Southeast Asia. Males have three prominent horns. The species is named for Atlas (mythology), Atlas, the giant of Greek mythology who supported the skies.

Description

''Chalcosoma atlas'', like other beetles of the genus ''Chalcosoma'', is remarkable for its size. As is common in the Scarabaeidae, males are larger than the females, reaching a length of about ; females are about . Males have specialised horns on their head and thorax that they use to fight with each other, to gain mating rights with females. The Atlas beetle differs from other ''Chalcosoma'' species (such as ''Chalcosoma caucasus, C. caucasus'') by the broader end of the cephalic (head) horn.

Larvae

The larva of the Atlas beetle is known for its fierce behavior, including biting if touched. Unverified reports exist of larvae that live together fighting to the death if they have insufficient space or food.

Distribution

''Chalcosoma atlas'' is found in Southeast Asia.

Parasitoids

The species is the host of a parasitoid, the giant scoliidae, scoliid wasp ''Megascolia procer'', which has a paralysing venom.

Subspecies

*''Chalcosoma atlas atlas'' (Linnaeus, 1758)- Sulawesi *''Chalcosoma atlas butonensis'' Nagai, 2004- Buton island *''Chalcosoma atlas keyboh'' Nagai, 2004- Malaysia and Sumatra *''Chalcosoma atlas mantetsu'' Nagai, 2004- Thailand and Vietnam *''Chalcosoma atlas simeuluensis'' Nagai, 2004- Simeule island *''Chalcosoma atlas sintae'' Nagai, 2004- Peleng islands *''Chalcosoma atlas hesperus'' (Erichson, 1834)- Philippines

Gallery

File:Descent of Man - Figure 16.jpg, Sexual dimorphism in ''Chalcosoma atlas''. From Darwin's ''The Descent of Man'', 2nd edn. 1882. File:Chalcosomaatlas3.JPG, Male of ''Chalcosoma atlas'' File:Scarabaeidae - Chalcosoma atlas.JPG, Males of ''Chalcosoma atlas'' File:Scarabaeidae - Chalcosoma atlas-1.JPG, Females of ''Chalcosoma atlas'' File:Chalcosoma atlas (13476479993).jpg, Male, showing broadened cephalic horn

References

External links

* *
Biolib
*Kazuo Kawan
Character Displacement in Giant Rhinoceros Beetles
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1340892 Dynastinae Beetles described in 1758 Beetles of Asia Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus