Golofa Scarab

Description:

This is a "major" male of Golofa imperialis, with a long prothoracic horn that is triangular at the tip. This horn and the underside of the body are covered in golden hair. If you touch the thoracic horn, the beetle rears up with the long front legs spread out to the sides, it looks quite threatening (Pictures 2 and 3). I picked him up by the thoracic horn and he immediately pinched me hard with the horn of the head. He can close the gap rapidly and clasp things between the two horns, a behavior that is not seen in scarabs with all the horns on their thorax (and therefore not opposable). These are large beetles, 3.5 cm long, and smell strongly of rotting fruit. The front legs are longer than the middle and hind pair. They move and climb easily on branches but when on flat surfaces, they are slow and clumsy.

Habitat:

Garden, semi-urban area, San Cristobal de Las Casas, 2,200 meters.

Notes:

To see a "minor" male of Golofa imperialis with a short thoracic horn: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/136....