Genus Xyloryctes - Rhinoceros Beetles

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Range · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Dynastes tityus, I think - Xyloryctes jamaicensis - male

Big horned scarab - Xyloryctes thestalus - male

Rhinocerus Beetle - Xyloryctes thestalus

Which Rhinocerus Beetle ? - Xyloryctes thestalus

Which Black Beetle ? - Xyloryctes thestalus

Rhinocerus Beetle - Xyloryctes jamaicensis - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Scarab, Stag and Bess Beetles)

Family Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)

Subfamily Dynastinae (Rhinoceros Beetles)

Tribe Oryctini

Genus Xyloryctes (Rhinoceros Beetles)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Xyloryctes Hope, 1837.

Explanation of Names

Genus name is Xylo- from Greek, xylon, wood, plus Greek oriktes, a digger (1).

Numbers

Arnett, page 420, lists just one species, jamaicensis, in the genus for North America. (2) Nearctica.com also lists just this one species for North America, but there are actually two (3);

Xyloryctes jamaicensis - Eastern US, west to eastern Texas; Mexico

Xyloryctes thestalus - AZ, NM, Mexico

Latest key is no help in differentiating.

Range

A New World genus with two species in the United States and others in neotropics.

Print References

Harpootlian, p. 112 (4)

Bitar, A & L. Delgado. 2009. A new species of Xyloryctes Hope (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) from Guatemala, with a key to the species. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 63(2):213-217.

Internet References

Ratcliffe, Brett C. 2009. Xyloryctes Hope, 1837 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Oryctini) in the United States. Qui es et ubi fuisti et quo vadis? Insecta Mundi 0100: 1-11 ([url=http://centerforsystematicentomology.org/insectamundi/0100Ratcliffe.pdf]PDF)

Works Cited

1.	The Century Dictionary: an encyclopedic lexicon of the English language

2.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico By Ross H. Arnett

3.	The Scarabaeoid Beetles of Nebraska By Brett C. Ratcliffe & M.J. Paulsen

4.	Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of South Carolina By Phillip J. Harpootlian

Contributed by Cotinis on 12 April, 2004 - 10:27am
Additional contributions by Phillip Harpootlian, ceiseman
Last updated 4 November, 2009 - 7:34pm

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