Strategus aloeus: Difference between revisions

Strategus aloeus
	Male Strategus aloeus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Scarabaeidae
Genus:	Strategus
Species:	S. aloeus
Binomial name
	Strategus aloeus; (Linnaeus, 1758)

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Strategus aloeus, the ox beetle, is a species of rhinoceros beetle native to the Americas.

Description

The "major" males of this species have three large horns on their thoraces, resembling Triceratops. The "minor" males have horns, as well, but the two back ones are small and the frontal horn is much shorter than the horn in major males. The female ox beetle has a very short horn which has little use in fighting, but is used for digging in the ground. These beetles grow to about 1.0 to 1.5 in (2.5 to 3.8 cm) long as adults when the horns are excluded in the males.

Distribution

Although this species occurs in the southern United States, its populations are much higher in the Neotropical realm, throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and parts of South America.

Breeding

The larvae of this species feed on roots in the ground, while the adults feed on flowers and all sorts of fruit. The larvae take around four to six months to reach the pupal stage. The pupal stage can be shortened in captivity by placing the pupae in a warm area. The adults are active from May to November, and during this time both males and females try to mate. These beetles are very common near lights in the summer and can be collected in large numbers in some areas. Their larvae are sometimes considered a pest because they can damage lawns and gardens by feeding on the roots.

Ox beetle (male left, female right)
Adult male
Adult female

References

Coin, Patrick and Phillip Harpootlian. "Species Strategus aloeus". Online: http://bugguide.net/node/view/6278. July 29, 2006.

External links

Strategus aloeus photos at Beetlespace.wz.cz
Strategus aloeus photos at BugGuide
Strategus aloeus photos at Goliathus.com

This Dynastinae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Species of beetle}}
-{{Taxobox
+{{Speciesbox
-| name = ''Strategus aloeus''
-| image = Strategus aloeus 7 sjh.jpg
+| image = Strategus aloeus Ox Beetle.JPG
+| image_caption = Male ''Strategus aloeus''
-| image_width = 275px
-| image_caption = ''Strategus aloeus'', Ox Beetle (male left, female right)
+| taxon = Strategus aloeus
+| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
-| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
-| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
-| classis = [[Insect]]a
-| ordo = [[Coleoptera]]
-| familia = [[Scarabaeidae]]
-| subfamilia = [[Dynastinae]]
-| genus = ''[[Strategus (genus)|Strategus]]''
-| species = '''''S. aloeus'''''
-| binomial = ''Strategus aloeus''
-| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758
 }}
-{{wikispecies|Strategus aloeus|Strategus aloeus}}
-{{commons|Strategus aloeus|''Strategus aloeus''}}
-The '''ox beetle''' (''Strategus aloeus'') is a type of [[rhinoceros beetle]].  The "major" males of this species have three large horns on the thorax, resembling the [[triceratops]].  The "minor" males have horns as well, but the two back ones are small and stubby.  Female ox beetles have no horns.
+'''''Strategus aloeus''''', the '''ox beetle''', is a species of [[rhinoceros beetle]] native to the [[Americas]].
-Although this species occurs in the United States, it's populations are much higher in Mexico, Central America and parts of South America.
+== Description ==
-Documentation regarding habitat and feeding preferences of Strategus Aloeus in Mexico, Central America and South America is more extensive than documentation within the United States.
+The "major" males of this species have three large horns on their thoraces, resembling ''[[Triceratops]]''.  The "minor" males have horns, as well, but the two back ones are small and the frontal horn is much shorter than the horn in major males. The female ox beetle has a very short horn which has little use in fighting, but is used for digging in the ground. These beetles grow to about {{convert|1.0|to|1.5|in|cm|abbr=on}} long as adults when the horns are excluded in the males.
+== Distribution ==
-More research needs to be done on the habitat and feeding preferences of this insect within  the United States.
+Although this species occurs in the southern United States, its populations are much higher in the [[Neotropical realm]], throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and parts of South America.
+== Breeding ==
-Studies in the United States should be done in collabration with entomologists who are familiar with the habitat of these insects in Mexico.
+The larvae of this species feed on roots in the ground, while the adults feed on flowers and all sorts of fruit. The larvae take around four to six months to reach the pupal stage. The pupal stage can be shortened in captivity by placing the pupae in a warm area. The adults are active from May to November, and during this time both males and females try to mate. These beetles are very common near lights in the summer and can be collected in large numbers in some areas. Their larvae are sometimes considered a pest because they can damage lawns and gardens by feeding on the roots.
 <gallery>
+File:Strategus aloeus 7 sjh.jpg|Ox beetle (male left, female right)
-Image:BugMacro.jpg|adult female
-Image:Strategus aloeus male 3 sjh.jpg|Adult male
+File:Strategus aloeus male 3 sjh.jpg|Adult male
-Image:Strategus aloeus female 3 sjh.jpg|Adult female
+File:Strategus aloeus female 3 sjh.jpg|Adult female
 </gallery>
-==References==
+==References==
 *Coin, Patrick and Phillip Harpootlian. "Species ''Strategus aloeus''". Online: http://bugguide.net/node/view/6278. July 29, 2006.
 == External links ==
+{{Commons|Strategus aloeus|''Strategus aloeus''}}
+{{Wikispecies|Strategus aloeus|Strategus aloeus}}
+*[http://beetlespace.wz.cz/e_Strategus_aloeus_julianus.html Strategus aloeus] photos at Beetlespace.wz.cz
 *[http://bugguide.net/node/view/6278 Strategus aloeus] photos at BugGuide
 *[http://www.goliathus.com/en/en-strategus-aloeus.html Strategus aloeus] photos at Goliathus.com
+{{Taxonbar|from=Q7621878}}
-{{beetle-stub}}
+[[Category:Dynastinae]]
+[[Category:Beetles of North America]]
+[[Category:Beetles of South America]]
+[[Category:Arthropods of Colombia]]
+[[Category:Beetles described in 1758]]
+[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]
+{{Dynastinae-stub}}
-[[Category:Scarabaeidae]]