Atlas beetle

The Atlas beetle (Chalcosoma atlas) is a very large species of beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, found in Southeast Asia. Males have three prominent horns. The species is named for Atlas, the giant of Greek mythology who supported the skies.

This article is about the Asian beetle. For other uses, see Atlas (disambiguation).

Atlas beetle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Scarabaeidae
Subfamily:
Dynastinae
Genus:
Chalcosoma
Species:
C. atlas
Binomial name
Chalcosoma atlas

Description

Chalcosoma atlas, like other beetles of the genus Chalcosoma, is remarkable for its size. As is common in the Scarabaeidae, males are larger than the females, reaching a length of about 60–130 millimetres (2.4–5.1 in); females are about 25–60 millimetres (0.98–2.36 in). Males have specialised horns on their head and thorax that they use to fight with each other, to gain mating rights with females. The Atlas beetle differs from other Chalcosoma species (such as C. caucasus) by the broader end of the cephalic (head) horn.

Larvae

The larva of the Atlas beetle is known for its fierce behavior, including biting if touched. Unverified reports exist of larvae that live together fighting to the death if they have insufficient space or food.

Distribution

C. atlas is found in Southeast Asia.

Parasitoids

The species is the host of a parasitoid, the giant scoliid wasp Megascolia procer, which has a paralysing venom.[1]

Subspecies
  • Chalcosoma atlas atlas (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Chalcosoma atlas butonensis Nagai, 2004
  • Chalcosoma atlas keyboh Nagai, 2004
  • Chalcosoma atlas mantetsu Nagai, 2004
  • Chalcosoma atlas simeuluensis Nagai, 2004
  • Chalcosoma atlas sintae Nagai, 2004
  • Chalcosoma atlas hesperus (Erichson, 1834)
  • Sexual dimorphism in Chalcosoma atlas. From Darwin's The Descent of Man, 2nd edn. 1882.
  • Male of Chalcosoma atlas
  • Males of Chalcosoma atlas
  • Females of Chalcosoma atlas
  • Male, showing broadened cephalic horn

References
  1. Piek, Tom (22 October 2013). Venoms of the Hymenoptera: Biochemical, Pharmacological and Behavioural Aspects. Elsevier. p. 173. ISBN 978-1-4832-6370-0.
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