Massive Neotropical rhinoceros beetle (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) with robust, convex body and dense, velvety setae giving a matte appearance. Adult length typically 55–125 mm; males larger and armed with a long, curved cephalic horn and paired thoracic horns used in male–male combat; females lack large horns (only small tubercles). Color dark brown to black; elytra often dusty with fine pubescence. Antennae lamellate (clubbed). Adults fly strongly at night and are frequently attracted to lights. Larvae are large C-shaped white grubs with brown head capsule that develop inside decaying hardwood logs.
≈ 8–10 cm (range ~5.5–12.5 cm)
Often up to ~50 g in large males (adult)
Adults ~1–5 months; entire egg→adult cycle commonly ~18–36 months (temperature dependent)
Data Deficient
Data Deficient
At or shortly after adult eclosion (sclerotization complete) — Data deficient for exact timing
Not enough data
Data deficient (egg number per female not published for species)
Massive Neotropical rhinoceros beetle (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) with robust, convex body and dense, velvety setae giving a matte appearance. Adult length typically 55–125 mm; males larger and armed with a long, curved cephalic horn and paired thoracic horns used in male–male combat; females lack large horns (only small tubercles). Color dark brown to black; elytra often dusty with fine pubescence. Antennae lamellate (clubbed). Adults fly strongly at night and are frequently attracted to lights. Larvae are large C-shaped white grubs with brown head capsule that develop inside decaying hardwood logs.
Tropical evergreen & deciduous forests from 0–1 000 m; adults forage in canopy and along sap flows; larvae develop in large decaying logs on the forest floor. Occurs in primary and mature secondary forest mosaics.
Adult: sap feeder and consumer of ripe/fermenting fruit; Larva: detritivore in decomposing wood—thus contributing to nutrient cycling and wood decay.
Activity: Predominantly nocturnal; adults visit sap flows and ripe fruit; readily attracted to lights.
Mating: Male–male combat using horns; winners secure access to sap sites and receptive females.
Life history: Larvae develop in large rotting logs (white-rot wood), excavating galleries that aerate and fragment wood
Among the heaviest beetles; large males can approach ~50 g and ~10 cm.
Adults cut twigs at night with crossed fore-tibiae to induce sap flow—then feed. Strongly nocturnal and light-attracted; often seen at research stations’ lights (e.g., La Selva).
Larvae grow in huge rotting logs for well over a year, helping decompose hardwoods.
