Actaeon beetle
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox
The actaeon beetle (Megasoma actaeon) is a rhinoceros beetle of the family Scarabaeidae.
Etymology
The species name actaeon derives from the name Actaeon of a famous Theban hero, son of the priestly herdsman Aristaeus and Autonoe in Boeotia, trained by the centaur Chiron.
Description
Actaeon beetle is one of the largest of all beetles, measuring up to Script error: No such module "convert". across, with a body length of about Script error: No such module "convert".. The males can grow to be Script error: No such module "convert". long by Script error: No such module "convert". thick .[1]
The dorsal surfaces are glabrous (bald), matte or shiny black. The legs are powerful, with large tarsal claws. Males have appendages resembling horns on the pronotum and on the head. The two parallel horns on the pronotum are short, acute and forward pointing, while a much longer horn with a small tooth is present on the head. In the females the pronotum and the elytra are rugose and the horns are missing.[2]
Life cycle
Females lay eggs into soil at eclosion and eggs develop in about 9 months. Larval development and pupation takes in total almost 3 years. Larvae at the 3rd instar can reach the weight of 200 grams, the highest weight among insects. Life expectancy of adults in captivity reaches about 100–150 days. The heaviest actaeon larva ever recorded was found in the northern regions of South America weighed Script error: No such module "convert". in 2009 nearly equivalent to a female rat.[3] Adults are much less massive, with no confirmed specimens exceeding the record-holder among insects, the Little Barrier giant weta, Deinacrida heteracantha, documented to attain up to 71g.[4][5]
Distribution
This species can be found in South America, particularly in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.[2]
See also
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Richards, A.O. 1973. A comparative study of the biology of the giant wetas Deinacrida heteracantha and D. fallai (Orthoptera: Henicidae) from New Zealand. Journal of Zoology 169: 195-236
- ↑ Book of Insect Records: Largest
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
- Insecta CultureTemplate:Category handler[<span title="Script error: No such module "string".">usurped]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".