Explanation of Names
Author of genus is Kirby, 1828.
Strategus means the
leader or commander of an army.
Numbers
Six species in the US
Strategus aloeus (Linnaeus 1758) - Southern US, GA/AZ
Strategus antaeus (Drury 1773) - Eastern US
Strategus cessus LeConte 1866 - AZ, NM
Type
Strategus craigi Ratcliffe 1976 -
AZ, Huachuca Mts., Carr Canyon, July & Mexico [old record, still here?]
Strategus mormon Burmeister 1847 - South Central US
Strategus splendens (Palisot de Beauvois 1809) - Southeastern Coastal Plain
Identification
Large scarabs, males with prominent horns, often in threes. Pronotum has large depression. Compare other large horned scarabs, especially
Phileurus and
Xyloryctes.
Key to the Strategus of the eastern US
1(0) Elytra with distinct, complete sutural striae [upper left] .... 2
1’ Elytra without sutural striae, sometimes slightly impressed apically, but not
complete; Horns slender; Widespread eastern US [upper right] .......... S. antaeus (Drury)
2(1) Male with posterior pair horns absent; length 25-36 mm,
Southeastern coastal plain, Palm feeder [bottom]................... S. splendens (Beauvois)
2’ Male with posterior horns present - laterally compressed;
length 31-61 mm; Southern US, Georgia-Arizona ........................ S. aloeus (Linnaeus)
Range
Southern North America, esp. coastal plain of southeastern United States. Genus extends into neotropics.
Habitat
Prefer sandy soils, apparently.
Season
All year, but esp. summer into fall
Food
In captivity, adults take fruit, etc.
Life Cycle
One year life cycle, apparently. Larvae, in captivity, feed on rotting wood, vegetation.
Remarks
Strategus and Xyloryctes are closely related and comprise the tribe Oryctini in the subfamily Dynastinae of the scarabs.
Print References
Ratcliffe, B.C. 1976. A revision of the genus Strategus. Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum 10. 176 pp.
White, p. 147, fig. 57
(3)Internet References
Cerambycids.com--good photos of life stages
TAMU--Insects of Texas (illustration of larvae)
North Carolina State University Entomology Collection lists one species from that state, with number pinned: S. antaeus (67).
