Chief goliath beetle
The Goliath beetle, belonging to the genus Goliathus, comprises six species and is recognized as the largest and heaviest beetle in the world, with some individuals growing up to 10 inches (25.5 centimeters) in length. One of the most notable species, the Chief Goliath beetle, can reach lengths of up to four inches (10 centimeters) and weighs up to 3.5 ounces (100 grams) during its larval stage. These beetles are primarily found in Africa and are often seen hanging from plants and trees, utilizing their powerful front legs.
Goliath beetles are herbivorous; adults primarily feed on fruit and tree sap using their strong mandibles. Their mating process involves a unique transfer of sperm, leading to the female laying fertilized eggs in plant tissue. The larvae feed on decaying plant matter for several months before entering a pupal stage, where they develop their wings. Despite their size, Goliath beetles are preyed upon by various animals, including frogs, birds, and small mammals. Interestingly, none of the Goliath beetle species are currently considered threatened, making them a stable part of their ecosystems.
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Goliath beetle
The six species of Goliath beetle are the largest and heaviest beetles in the world. Growing to a length of up to 10 inches (25 1/2 centimeters), the Goliath are some of the largest flying insects. The Chief Goliath beetle grows up to four inches (10 centimeters). These beetles were given the name Goliath in honor of the Biblical character Goliath, who was a very large Philistine man.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Genus: Goliathus
Species: Cacicus
There are six species of Goliath beetle, including the Chief Goliath beetle. All Goliath beetles are typically found in Africa. They are flower-dwelling beetles who are commonly seen hanging from plants and trees by its powerful front legs.
Growing to a length of up to four inches (10 centimeters), the Chief Goliath beetle is one of the largest beetles in the world. It is also one of the heaviest beetles, weighing up to 3 1/2 ounces (100 grams) in its larval stage. Adults weigh far less. The body of the Chief Goliath beetle is made up of the main insect parts of head, thorax, or middle section, and abdomen, or lower section. This large insect has three pairs of large, segmented legs. The first pair extends from its thorax, while the hind pairs extend from its abdomen. In spite of the large size of the Chief Goliath beetle, its head is very small with a small pair of antennae extending from either side.
The Chief Goliath beetle is one of the largest flying insects in the world. Its powerful, but delicate, rear wings are protected beneath elytra, or hard coverings formed by the beetle's front wings. Each elytrum is basically creamy white with a large brown marking. This pattern is very similar to the markings on the chief Goliath beetle's head and thorax. Like the elytra of other beetles, the Chief Goliath beetle's elytra are hard, smooth, and shiny. When the Chief Goliath beetle is climbing on flowers, its elytra rest against its body, but when the beetle flies, the elytra lift, allowing room for the rear wings to flap and flutter.
Since the Chief Goliath beetle is a very large beetle, it would seem that a creature of this size would prey on smaller insects. However, this is not the case with the Chief Goliath beetle. Instead of feeding on animals, the adult Chief Goliath beetle feeds on fruit. Like other beetles, it chews this fruit with its strong mandibles, or jaws. After cutting, piercing, and chewing the fruit with its mandibles, the Chief Goliath beetle moves the food to its throat with its maxillae and its lips. The Chief Goliath beetle also feeds on tree sap.
Mating between Chief Goliath beetles typically takes place in the trees. Once a pair of Chief Goliath beetles is established, the couple mates. During this process, the male Chief Goliath beetle passes a package of sperm called a spermatophore to the female. The sperm then fertilize the eggs of the female within her body. Soon after mating, the female beetle lays her fertilized eggs in plant tissue.
After a developmental period within the eggs, young Chief Goliath beetles hatch from their eggs as larvae. They live and feed in this form for many months. Chief Goliath beetle larvae typically feed on rotting plant matter until they are mature. Eventually, the Chief Goliath beetle larvae molt, or shed, their larval skins and move into their pupal stage. They continue growing and develop their wings during their pupal stage and eventually molt again and emerge as adult Chief Goliath beetles.
Frogs, birds, lizards, rodents, and small mammals are predators of the Chief Goliath beetle. The average life span for the Chief Goliath beetle is around three months. No species of Goliath beetle is considered a threatened species.
Bibliography
“The 6 Goliath Beetle Species and Their Facts.” Natural History Curiosities, 22 Aug. 2020, www.naturalhistorycuriosities.com/insects/the-6-goliath-beetle-species-and-their-facts. Accessed 2 Apr. 2024.
“Chief Goliath Beetle (Goliathus Cacicus).” iNaturalist, www.inaturalist.org/taxa/549002-Goliathus-cacicus. Accessed 2 Apr. 2024.