Goliathus orientalis

Goliathus orientalis
Male of Goliathus orientalis. Mounted specimen on display at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Cetoniinae
Genus: Goliathus
Species: G. orientalis
Binomial name
Goliathus orientalis
Moser, 1909
Synonyms
  • Goliathus giganteus orientalis Moser, 1909[1]

Goliathus orientalis is a species of beetles belonging to the family Scarabaeidae.

Subspecies

  • G. orientalis meleagris Sjöstedt, 1927
  • G. orientalis orientalis Moser, 1909

[1]

Description

Goliathus orientalis is one of the largest species of the genus Goliathus, with a body length of about 50–100 millimetres (2.0–3.9 in) in males,[2] of about 50–65 millimetres (2.0–2.6 in) in females.[2][3]

The body is broad and flat. Elytra are whitish with a complex pattern of black markings usually in the form of black rings. Pronotum (thoracic shield) usually shows large black longitudinal stripes or a large black area. This usual pattern may differ greatly in the subspecies. The head bears a black Y-shaped horn in males, used in battles with other males. Legs are long, powerful, black. Despite its large body, these beetles fly well. They have a large and membranous secondary pair of wings. When not in use, these wings are kept completely folded beneath the elytra. These beetles feed primarily on tree sap and fruits.[4]

Life cycle

The larvae live in the soil and need a protein-rich diet, because they grow very quickly. In captivity they may be fed on commercial cat and dog food.[5] Even under optimum conditions, the larvae take about 4 months to mature fully, which corresponds to the duration of the rainy season. Larvae can reach a length of about 130 millimetres (5.1 in) and a weight of about 100 grams (3.5 oz).[5] When maximum size is reached, the larva constructs a pupal chamber in which it will undergo metamorphosis to the adult state. In this stage they spend most of the dry season. The adult does not come up before the rain comes. In captivity the adults can live over a year, but in the wild life is probably much shorter.[1][5]

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Tanzania.[1] It can be found in the savannah, in shady areas with trees.[2] It can also be found sipping sap from certain trees in groups of 3 or more.

In the pet trade

This species is extremely valued in captivity and an adult pair can easily be sold for more than 100 pounds. Adults are generally wild caught rather than captive bred as a culture can be extremely hard to keep going for more than a couple of generations. As export laws have tightened we can expect to see less of this beetle in the hobby.

The pupal cell is made with sand and larvae are generally reared on dog, fish or ferret food, as they do not consume dead leaf matter. They take approximately a year and a half to mature in captivity and wild individuals most likely take longer. They are prone to cannibalising other beetles of their or other species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Biolib
  2. 1 2 3 Natural World
  3. ↑ Beetles Space
  4. ↑ Jonathan R. Mawdsleya Taxonomy of the Goliath beetle Goliathus orientalis Moser, 1909 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) Journal of Natural History, Volume 47, Issue 21-22, 2013
  5. 1 2 3 Karl Meier Goliathus Breeding Manual
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