• Source: European rhinoceros beetle
  • The European rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes nasicornis) is a large flying beetle belonging to the subfamily Dynastinae.


    Subspecies


    Oryctes nasicornis afghanistanicus Endrödi, 1938
    Oryctes nasicornis chersonensis Minck, 1915
    Oryctes nasicornis corniculatus Villa & Villa, 1833
    Oryctes nasicornis edithae Endrödi, 1938
    Oryctes nasicornis grypus (Illiger, 1803)
    Oryctes nasicornis hindenburgi Minck, 1915
    Oryctes nasicornis holdhausi Minck, 1914
    Oryctes nasicornis illigeri Minck, 1915
    Oryctes nasicornis kuntzeni Minck, 1914
    Oryctes nasicornis latipennis Motschulsky, 1845
    Oryctes nasicornis mariei (Bourgin, 1949)
    Oryctes nasicornis nasicornis (Linnaeus, 1758)
    Oryctes nasicornis ondrejanus Minck, 1916
    Oryctes nasicornis polonicus Minck, 1916
    Oryctes nasicornis przevalskii Semenow & Medvedev, 1932
    Oryctes nasicornis punctipennis Motschulsky, 1860
    Oryctes nasicornis shiraticus Endrödi & Petrovitz, 1974
    Oryctes nasicornis transcaspicus Endrödi, 1938
    Oryctes nasicornis turkestanicus Minck, 1915


    Description


    One of the largest beetles found in Europe, Oryctes nasicornis reach a length of 20–42 millimetres (3⁄4–1+3⁄4 inches), with a maximum of 47 mm (1+7⁄8 in). The elytra are reddish brown with a glazed appearance, while the head and pronotum are slightly darker. The underside of the body and the legs are covered with long red hair. It is a sexually dimorphic species. The male's head is topped by a long curved horn (hence its common name), while the females have no horns.


    = Life cycle

    =
    The larvae grow in decaying plants feeding on woody debris (xylophagy), generally non-resinous. They can reach a length of 60–100 mm (2+1⁄4–4 in). The development period lasts 2 to 4 years. The adult’s size is influenced by the quality and abundance of food.
    The mammoth wasp (Megascolia maculata) is a parasitoid of O. nasicornis larvae. The female wasp lays one egg inside the beetle larva; when the egg hatches, the wasp larva will feed on the host.
    The adult beetle emerges between the end of March to May, and lives for a few months until autumn. It occurs mainly during the months of June and July and is very active, flying at dusk and by night, attracted by lights. In this stage they do not feed, consuming only the reserves accumulated during the larval stages.


    Distribution and habitat


    Oryctes nasicornis inhabits the Palaearctic region, excluding the British Isles. It is the only representative of the Dynastinae family found in Northern Europe. It is widespread in the Mediterranean basin up to Pakistan, the Near East and North Africa.
    The rhinoceros beetle lives on wood, and the large larvae can be found in rotting wood stumps and around sawdust. At the margin of its distribution, the beetle is often found in connection with sawmills and horse racing tracks.


    References


    R.-P. Dechambre & G. Lachaume (2001). The genus Oryctes (Dynastidae). The Beetles of the World. Vol. 27. Hillside Books, Canterbury. Archived from the original on 2010-08-06.


    Notes

Kata Kunci Pencarian: