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Genus of beetles From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Megasoma is a genus of rhinoceros beetles. Commonly known as the elephant beetles, Megasoma species are found from the southern half of North America to most of South America.[1]
| Megasoma | |
|---|---|
| |
| Megasoma elephas, the elephant beetle | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Subfamily: | Dynastinae |
| Tribe: | Dynastini |
| Genus: | Megasoma Kirby, 1825 |
| Type species | |
| Megasoma actaeon (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Megasoma are generally large in size (as indicated by the name, which is "large body" in Greek). As a group, the genus contains some of the largest beetle species known. However, there are small species of this genus as well. The largest can be up to 135 mm, while small ones like Megasoma punctulatum can be around 20 mm.
Many Megasoma species (Megasoma elephas, Megasoma thersites, Megasoma gyas, Megasoma cedrosa, Megasoma anubis, Megasoma occidentale, Megasoma joergenseni, Megasoma vogti) have thin microscopic hairs (setae) covering nearly their entire bodies, giving the appearance of being pale or orange.
Males of most species have large horns that they use to wrestle with other males. Females do not have horns.
Larvae feed on tree or shrub roots. Adults usually drink tree sap or suck juice from fruit.
Adult Megasoma are nocturnal and are attracted to lights, and are often seen resting in trees.
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