Megasoma elephas

megasoma elephas

This species has 2 subspecies , elephas in Central and South America and iijimai in Mexico, at elevations of 0-1000m in tropical forests.

They are black but coated in a thick pile of short hairs that gives them a yellow appearance. The males have the horns and can grow up to 120mm. Females lack the horns and are less than 50% of the  male size.

The adults feed at night by cutting a twig (Citrus nobillis  or Lonchocarpus castilloi) with the foretibia and feeding on the sap.

The larvae live in rotting trees and take up to 30 months to develop, the adults live about 4-12 weeks.

Their numbers has reduced due to deforestation.


Peru

M A1 £ 45