What is this Beetle?
July 19, 2009
Found this beetle trying to burrow into the concrete under my front door, so we picked him up and had a good looksie at him. Can’t for the life of me figure out what kind he is. Thought he was a rhinocerous beetle, but can’t find a picture that looks like him. Help!
Jonathan C
Fort Pierce, FL USA
Dear Jonathan,
Though we often have people write in comparing insects to dinosaurs, like calling the Wheel Bug a Stegosaurus, to the best of our knowledge, this may be the only insect that actually is named for a dinosaur. Your Triceratops Beetle, Phileurus truncatus, is also called a Loving Beetle according to BugGuide which has this information: “Adults come to lights. Larvae feed in rotten logs, reported, in particular, from dead oaks. Presumably, males (?) use horns to defend breeding sites. Lifespan of adults is reported to be quite long (up to two years) in captivity. Reported to have structures for sound production (stridulation) (1). Stridulate softly when handled (P. Coin, Durham, NC 11 July 2007).” BugGuide also has this crazy statement: “Adults have been reported causing cabin fires by coming down chimneys, presumably attracted to fireplace smoke and spreading embers” which we find odd and potentially libelous. We surely hope that statement does not contribute to the unnecessary carnage of this magnificent creature.
