''Strategus aloeus'', the ox beetle, is a species of

rhinoceros beetle Dynastinae or rhinoceros beetles are a subfamily of the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae). Other common names – some for particular groups of rhinoceros beetles – include Hercules beetles, unicorn beetles or horn beetles. Over 1 ...

. The "major" males of this species have three large horns on their thoraces, resembling the

Triceratops ''Triceratops'' ( ; ) is a genus of herbivorous chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur that first appeared during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous period, about 68 million years ago in what is now North America. It is one ...

. 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. The female ox beetle has a very short horn which has little use in fighting, but is used for digging in the ground. These beetles grow to about 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 feed on roots in the ground, while the adults feed on flowers and all sorts of fruit. The larvae take around four to six months to reach the pupal stage. The pupal stage can be shortened in captivity by placing the pupae in a warm area. The adults are active from May to 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. Their larvae are sometimes considered a pest because they can damage lawns and gardens by feeding on the roots. File:Strategus aloeus 7 sjh.jpg, Ox beetle (male left, female right) File:Strategus aloeus male 3 sjh.jpg, Adult male File:Strategus aloeus female 3 sjh.jpg, Adult female

References

*Coin, Patrick and Phillip Harpootlian. "Species ''Strategus aloeus''". Online: http://bugguide.net/node/view/6278. July 29, 2006.

External links

Strategus aloeus
photos at Beetlespace.wz.cz
Strategus aloeus
photos at BugGuide

photos at Goliathus.com Dynastinae Beetles of North America Beetles of South America Arthropods of Colombia Beetles described in 1758 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus {{Dynastinae-stub