Elephant Rhinoceros Beetle

Size, color, horns, and heft cause people to stop and stare at the Elephant Rhinoceros Beetle.

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Image Credit: Kathy D. in Manzanillo, MX

Full-sized image #1 of the Elephant Rhinoceros Beetle

Thumbnail image #1 of the Elephant Rhinoceros Beetle

TAXONOMY:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Scarabaeidae

Genus: Megasoma

Species: elephas

The Elephant Rhinoceros Beetle is also known by the name(s) of: Elephant Rhino Beetle. The Elephant Rhinoceros Beetle is typically 2.7 inches to 5.9 inches (70mm to 150mm) in size and has the following descriptors / identifiers: large; big; brown; velvet; flocking; fine hairs; two horns; curved snout; trunk; long nose; black; brown; orange.

It has a typical diet of the following: sap; ripe fruit.

Color Identification Guide

Various colors commonly associated with this beetle.

Orange

Brown

Black

Beetle Anatomy

Sighting Guide (Jan-Dec)

The general likelihood of encountering this beetle based on a given month of the year in the United States.

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Territorial Area Map (Visual Reference Guide)

The map below showcases (in blue) the states and territories of North America where the Elephant Rhinoceros Beetle may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data can be useful in seeing concentrations of a particular species over the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some species are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America.

Alaska

Hawaii

Prince Edward Is.

Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic

Mexico

Similar Beetles

Similar beetles to the Elephant Rhinoceros Beetle that are associated with or commonly mistaken for...

Eastern Hercules Beetle

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