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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Scarab, Stag and Bess Beetles (Scarabaeoidea) » Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeidae) » Rhinoceros Beetles (Dynastinae) » Phileurini » Phileurus » Triceratops Beetle (Phileurus truncatus)

Species Phileurus truncatus - Triceratops Beetle

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Size · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Works Cited

Large Black Beetle - Phileurus truncatus - male

Shiny black beetle with horns - Phileurus truncatus

Phileurus truncatus, Triceratops Beetle ? - Phileurus truncatus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Scarab, Stag and Bess Beetles)

Family Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)

Subfamily Dynastinae (Rhinoceros Beetles)

Tribe Phileurini

Genus Phileurus

Species truncatus (Triceratops Beetle)

Other Common Names

Loving Scarab, Double-horned Rhino Beetle

Explanation of Names

Phileurus truncatus (Palisot de Beauvois 1806)

Size

32-38 mm(1)

Range

se US, AZ (VA-FL to OK-AZ)(1) to S. America - Map (2)

Habitat

Woodlands. Adults have been reported causing cabin fires by coming down chimneys, presumably attracted to fireplace smoke and spreading embers.

Season

Apr-Sep in SC(3), Jul-Sep in NC(4)

Food

Adults will take fruit and meat in captivity; may feed on other insects

Life Cycle

Adults come to lights. Larvae in rotten logs, esp. oaks. Adults can live up to two years in captivity. Have structures for sound production (stridulation)(5) and stridulate softly when handled (P. Coin, 11.vii.2007).

Larvae and adults are also "carnivorous" and will - if not preferentially - feed on grubs & pupae of other scarabs

Works Cited

1.	Beetles of Eastern North America Arthur V. Evans. 2014. Princeton University Press.

2.	Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

3.	Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of South Carolina Phillip J. Harpootlian. 2001. Clemson University Public Service.

4.	Insects of North Carolina C.S. Brimley. 1938. North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

5.	Insects of the Texas Lost Pines (W.L. Moody, Jr., Natural History Series, No. 33) Stephen W. Taber, Scott B. Fleenor. 2003. M University Press.

Contributed by Cotinis on 8 July, 2004 - 1:15pm
Additional contributions by Phillip Harpootlian, Mike Quinn, v belov, Bill Reynolds
Last updated 6 December, 2019 - 12:58am

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