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Goliath beetles are among the largest insects on Earth, if measured in terms of size, bulk and weight. [1] [2] They are members of subfamily Cetoniinae, within the family Scarabaeidae. [1] Goliath beetles can be found in many of Africa's tropical forests, [1] where they feed primarily on tree sap and fruit.
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 ...
The highest confirmed weight of an adult insect is 71 g (2.5 oz) for a gravid female giant weta, Deinacrida heteracantha, [2] although it is likely one of the elephant beetles, Megasoma elephas and Megasoma actaeon, or goliath beetles, both of which can commonly exceed 50 g (1.8 oz) and 10 cm (3.9 in), can reach a greater weight. [2]
This species possess a large and membranous secondary pair of wings actually used for flying. When not in use, they are kept completely folded beneath the elytra. The head is whitish, with a black Y-shaped horn in males, used as a pry bar in battles with other males over feeding sites or mates. These beetles feed primarily on tree sap and fruits.
The heaviest beetle, indeed the heaviest insect stage, is the larva of the goliath beetle, Goliathus goliatus, which can attain a mass of at least 115 g (4.1 oz) and a length of 11.5 cm (4.5 in). Adult male goliath beetles are the heaviest beetle in its adult stage, weighing 70–100 g (2.5–3.5 oz) and measuring up to 11 cm (4.3 in). [23]
Others, such as the Japanese beetle, are plant-eaters, wreaking havoc on various crops and vegetation. Some of the well-known beetles from the Scarabaeidae are Japanese beetles, dung beetles, June beetles, rose chafers (Australian, European, and North American), rhinoceros beetles, Hercules beetles and Goliath beetles.
Goliathus albosignatus can reach a length of about 45–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) in males, and about 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) in females. [2] There are distinctive non-uniform bands of black that stretch horizontally across their elytra to differentiate it from other species.
Goliathus cacicus can reach a length of 50–100 millimetres (2.0–3.9 in) in males, of 58–79 millimetres (2.3–3.1 in) in females. The presence of sexual dichromatism in this species of beetle can be traced to the randomly structured filaments in the elytra of both males and females, contributing to vast differences in coloration and luster.