Species Xyloryctes jamaicensis - Rhinoceros Beetle

Xyloryctes jamaicensis (Drury, 1773)

Specific name means "of Jamaica", of course--but not clear if the species is actually found there.

25-28 mm

Large reddish-brown scarab, mandibles small, sides fringed with hairs. Male has squared-off pronotum, large horn. The similar "Ox-beetle", Strategus antaeus, has a horn projecting from each side of thorax in the male, and has no striations on elytra (1).

Eastern United States: Virginia and Carolinas north at least to Rhode Island, west to Nebraska, eastern Texas. Not on Beetles of Florida checklist, so perhaps does not range that far south.

Deciduous forests.

Reported in literature July-September (North Carolina and South Carolina). Guide photos here show some records for June in that area.

Adults feed on ash (Fraxinusp) foliage (2).

Larvae feed on ash (Fraxinus spp.) roots (2). Other sources say larvae feed on decaying organic matter, may be found in compost heaps and rotting logs. Adults attracted to lights.

Adults seem to like apple. Most wild collected individuals do not seem to be "long lived" as adults (only a few weeks to months). We have had a few live > 1 year.

Breeding them is easy - put males & females together and nature runs its course. The larvae like rich soil with a mix of soft rotting wood and the life cycle takes a year or 2. The substrate should be 5 to six inches deep or slightly more for the females to lay and for the larvae to mature. You will likely need to add rotting wood every couple months or so to make sure the grubs have adequate food.

There is more detailed info available on-line concerning the rearing and captive care for this species....Google Xloryctes jamaicensis & captive care.

The site below should have info/links or can answer questions you might have.

http://www.beetle-experience.com/gallery-1l.htm

Bill Reynolds

Curator, Coordinator, & Containment Director of the Arthropod Zoo

NC Museum of Natural Sciences

11 West Jones Street

Raleigh, NC 27601-1029

(919) 733-7450 Ext. 512

bill.reynolds@ncdenr.gov

Arnett et al. illustrate male, female, fig. 439, page 179. (1)

Arnett illustrates male, fig. 24.73, p. 420. (2)

Dillon, p. 550--description, illustrates male, female, plate LIII. (3)

Borror and White illustrate male, p. 195. (4)

Harpootlian, p. 112, fig. 225 (5)

Brimley, p. 207 (6)

Sikes, p. 130 (7)

Illustration of claws given in a key to New World Scarabs

Brief species account at Texas A&M

Photos of male and female--a good comparison.

A cute alphabetical drawing--letter "X"

Beetle Experience--photo gallery

Common in the entomology collection at North Carolina State University , with 169 pinned, including specimens from that state.