Goliathus regius

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Ordo: Coleoptera
Subordo: Polyphaga
Infraordo: Scarabaeiformia
Superfamilia: Scarabaeoidea

Familia: Scarabaeidae
Subfamilia: Cetoniinae
Tribus: Goliathini
Subtribus: Goliathina
Genus: Goliathus
Species: Goliathus regius
Name

Goliathus regius Klug, 1835

Synonyms

Goliathus africanus
Goliathus arrowi''
Goliathus balthasari
Goliathus basilewskyi
Goliathus brincki
Goliathus brittoni
Goliathus burgeoni
Goliathus clementi
Goliathus druryi
Goliathus drurii
Goliathus freudei
Goliathus freyi
Goliathus giganteus
Goliathus grebenscikovi
Goliathus janssensi
Goliathus landini
Goliathus machatschkei
Goliathus marshalli
Goliathus miksici
Goliathus moellenkampi
Goliathus moseri
Goliathus pauliani
Goliathus ruteri
Goliathus sjoestedti
Goliathus tesari

Goliathus regius, the Royal Goliath beetle,[6] is a species of beetles of the family Scarabaeidae.[7][8]

Description

Goliathus regius is very similar to Goliathus goliatus in both structure and colour characters.[4] It is one of the largest species of the genus Goliathus, with a body length of 50–115 millimetres (2.0–4.5 in) in males and of 56–82 millimetres (2.2–3.2 in) in females. The body is broad and flat. Elytra are whitish with a complex pattern of black markings, and the pronotum (thoracic shield) has a large black longitudinal stripe. The head bears a black Y-shaped horn in males, used in battles with other males. Legs are long, powerful, black. Females have two sharp spikes on the outside of the tibiae. 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.[6]

Life cycle

The larvae live in the soil and need the protein-rich diet, because they grow very quickly. In captivity they may feed on commercial cat and dog food. 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). When maximum size is reached, the larva constructs a pupal chamber in which it will undergo metamorphosis (pupation) 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.[9]
Distribution
This species is present in western equatorial Africa, in Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, South Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin (Dahome), Nigeria and Liberia.

References

Westwood J.O. (1837) Illustrations of exotic entomology, containing upwards of six hundred and fifty figures and descriptions of foreign insects, interspersed with remarks and reflections on their nature and properties, Drury's Exotische Insecten 2(3):1-93
MacLeay W.S. (1838) On the Cetoniidae of South Africa. Smith A.:Illustrations of the zoology of South Africa; consisting chiefly of figures and descriptions of the objects of natural history collected during an expedition into the interior of South Africa, in the years 1834,, Smith, Elder & Co. London 3:3-52
Castelnau F. (1840) Histoire Naturelle des Insectes Coléoptères. Avec une introduction renfermant L'Anatomie et la Physiologie des Animaux Articulés, par M.Brullé, P.Duménil. Paris 2:1-564
Wiebes, J.T. (1968) Catalogue of the Coleoptera Cetoniidae in the Leiden Museum 1. Goliathus Lamarck, sensu lato. Zoologische Mededelingen 43: 19-40.
Endrödi S. (1960) Die arten und abberationen der gattung Goliathus Lam II, Folia Entomologica Hungarica, Budapest 13(22):467-508
Goliathus regius in Natural World
Klug J.C.F (1835) Verzeichniss von Thieren und Pflanzen, welche auf einer Reise um die Erde gesammelt wurden von A.Erman. V.Insekten (Coleoptera), Berlin G.Reimer :27-50
Scarabs: World Scarabaeidae Database. Schoolmeesters P., 2011-05-30
Karl Meyer Goliathus Breeding Manual