Goliathus goliatus

Goliathus goliatus
Goliathus goliatus, flying position
Dorsal view of Goliathus goliatus at the Montreal Insectarium
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Cetoniinae
Genus: Goliathus
Species: G. goliatus
Binomial name
Goliathus goliatus
(Drury, 1770)

Goliathus goliatus is a species of beetles belonging to the Scarabaeidae family.

Systematic

Synonyms

Subspecies

(Biolib)

Description

Goliathus goliatus is one of the largest species in the genus Goliathus, males having a body length of about 50–110 millimetres (2.0–4.3 in) and females having a body length of about 50–80 millimetres (2.0–3.1 in). The pronotum (thoracic shield) is mainly black, with whitish longitudinal stripes, while elytra are usually dark brown. This pattern may differ greatly in some subspecies and forms.

This species possess a large and membranous secondary pair of wings actually used for flying. When not in use, they are kept completely folded beneath the elytra. The head is whitish, with a black Y-shaped horn in males, used as a pry bar in battles with other males over feeding sites or mates. These beetles feed primarily on tree sap and fruits.

Distribution

This species is widespread from western to eastern equatorial Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda).

Habitat

Goliathus goliatus is mainly present in the equatorial forests and in the sub-equatorial savannah.

References

    Wikispecies has information related to: Goliathus goliatus
    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Goliathus goliatus.


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