23 April 2004

The rhinocerous beetle

Jim Lindelien

The male Rhinoceros beetle, Megasoma elephas, is endemic to Costa Rica and is among the largest and strongest of its insects. Only the male beetle has the characteristic upturned horn.  This specimen had no trouble tearing its way out of the 6-mil thick "industrial strength" ploy bag with which my son Niels first cornered him. As larvae these beetles require three to four years to mature in the rotting logs of large trees.