Megasoma
actaeon
Range: widespread
in South America
Size: 50 - 120 mm
Of all the rhinoceros beetles of the South
American tropics, Megasoma actaeon is surely the one of the largest
and most magnificent in appearance. At 120 mm, it is not quite so
long as Dynastes hercules, but its body is broader, often measuring
70
mm across. There are a number of species of Megasoma, and
members of this genus are often referred to as the "elephant beetles" (not
to be confused with the large "elephant dung beetles" of the genus Heliocopris
which are found in Africa and Asia). Apart from implying huge size,
this name may have also been given due to the form of the beetle's horns.
The robust thoracic horns point forward, looking rather like the tusks
of an elephant, and the long cephalic horn is reminiscent of an elephant's
trunk. The armor of the adult male beetle is very smooth to the touch,
and it is quite thick and solid. Some other species of Megasoma
are not so smooth in texture, however. M. elephas of southern
Mexico and Central America, for example, has a body that is entirely covered
in a fine coat of microscopic yellow-brown hairs. There are several
other Megasoma species which possess this same characteristic. |