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

Systematic

Synonyms

• Goliathus adspersus Sjostedt, 1927
• Goliathus africanus Lamarck, 1801
• Goliathus albatus Kraatz, 1897
• Goliathus albipennis Endrodi, 1960
• Goliathus albovariegatus Sjostedt, 1927
• Goliathus apicalis Kraatz, 1895
• Goliathus confluens Kraatz, 1897
• Goliathus conjunctivittis Kraatz, 1898
• Goliathus connectens Csiki, 1904
• Goliathus curtivittis Kraatz, 1898
• Goliathus giganteus Lamarck, 1817 ^[1]

Subspecies

• Goliathus goliatus var. conspersus Kraatz, 1895 ^[1]

Description

Goliathus goliatus one of the largest species of the genus Goliathus, with a body length of about 50–110 millimetres (2.0–4.3 in) in the males and about 50–80 millimetres (2.0–3.1 in) in the females. Pronotum(thoracic shield) is mainly black, with whitish longitudinal stripes, while elytra are usually dark brown. This usual pattern may differ greatly in some subspecies and forms.

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.

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  Goliathus goliatus male, at the Montreal Insectarium

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  Goliathus goliatus male, dorsal side

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  Goliathus goliatus male, ventral side

Distribution

This species is widespread from western to eastern equatorial Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda).

Habitat

Goliathus goliatus is mainly present in the equatorial forests and in the sub-equatorial savannah.

References

Wikispecies has information related to: Goliathus goliatus

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Goliathus goliatus

• Natural World
• Goliathus