Ox Beetle - Strategus cessus

Moved

… Alan Jeon, 30 September, 2015 - 7:38pm

How can you

tell this one is a female? I can't find a good illustration of male vs. female.

… Carla Kishinami, 1 October, 2015 - 10:38am

Pic of a male

http://bugguide.net/node/view/228708/bgimage

Seems that males have deeper and wider depression on the pronotum, but not sure if this is a reliable characteristic to separate the gender.

… Alan Jeon, 1 October, 2015 - 11:04am

Thanks much

It also looks like the male has one narrower, sharper bump where the female has one broad ridge on the head where the "horns" are. I also see two small bumps more forward on the male's "face". Sorry I don't know the proper terminology.

… Carla Kishinami, 1 October, 2015 - 11:17am

This is Strategus cessus.

It is black rather than "castaneus" as Strategus aloeus is often called. The tiny "horn" probably indicates that this is a male, but looking at the last abdominal segment (aka sternite) is the right way to tell. This species is found over most of New Mexico and Arizona, usually at elevations of above 2000 feet.

… Bruce Tilden, 30 September, 2015 - 3:51am

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Blaine Mathison, 27 September, 2015 - 5:17pm

Thank you

Blaine. I must keep looking for a male.

… Carla Kishinami, 28 September, 2015 - 10:34am

Is this

Xyloryctes thestalus?

… Carla Kishinami, 27 September, 2015 - 4:10pm

Strategus sp.

… Bruce Tilden, 27 September, 2015 - 4:58pm