Goliath beetle - Goliathus orientalis - male

Goliath beetle - Goliathus orientalis - male

Description:
Goliath beetles (genus Goliathus) are large beetles from the rose beetle subfamily (Cetoniinae). They reach up to 10 cm in length and vary in the color of their chitin shell depending on the species. They are native to West and Central Africa, inhabit tropical rainforests and tree savannahs and feed on tree sap at night.

Characteristics:
The beetles have characteristic features such as an elongated head with an appendage on which a forked horn sits in males. Their antennae are short and thicken at the end to form a club.

Nutrition:
The larvae of these beetles are large grubs that grow up to 15 cm long and feed on dead wood. They are an important source of protein in the diet in Central Africa. Weighing up to 110 grams, goliath beetle larvae are the heaviest insects. Dead beetles are popular and expensive among collectors.

Origin:
The genus Goliathus belongs to the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae) and the rose beetle subfamily (Cetoniinae). They are a fascinating example of the diversity of the insect world.