European Rhinoceros Beetle

The Oryctes nasicornis beetle is one of the largest beetles in Europe, reaching up to 47 mm in length. They have reddish-brown elytra with a glazed appearance, and males have a long curved horn on their head. These beetles are found in the Palaearctic region, excluding the British Isles, and are commonly seen in the Mediterranean basin, Near East, and North Africa. Oryctes nasicornis live on wood, with their larvae found in rotting wood stumps and around sawdust. They are often associated with sawmills and horse racing tracks at the edge of their distribution range.

Subspecies

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Oryctes nasicornis afghanistanicus Endrödi, 1938 Oryctes nasicornis chersonensis Minck, 1915 Oryctes nasicornis corniculatus Villa & Villa, 1833 Oryctes nasicornis edithae Endrödi, 1938 Oryctes nasicornis grypus (Illiger, 1803) Oryctes nasicornis hindenburgi Minck, 1915 Oryctes nasicornis holdhausi Minck, 1914 Oryctes nasicornis illigeri Minck, 1915 Oryctes nasicornis kuntzeni Minck, 1914 Oryctes nasicornis latipennis Motschulsky, 1845 Oryctes nasicornis mariei (Bourgin, 1949) Oryctes nasicornis nasicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) Oryctes nasicornis ondrejanus Minck, 1916 Oryctes nasicornis polonicus Minck, 1916 Oryctes nasicornis przevalskii Semenow & Medvedev, 1932 Oryctes nasicornis punctipennis Motschulsky, 1860 Oryctes nasicornis shiraticus Endrödi & Petrovitz, 1974 Oryctes nasicornis transcaspicus Endrödi, 1938 Oryctes nasicornis turkestanicus Minck, 1915

Description

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One of the largest beetles found in Europe, Oryctes nasicornis reach a length of 20–42 millimetres (3⁄4–1+3⁄4 inches), with a maximum of 47 mm (1+7⁄8 in). The elytra are reddish brown with a glazed appearance, while the head and pronotum are slightly darker. The underside of the body and the legs are covered with long red hair. It is a sexually dimorphic species. The male’s head is topped by a long curved horn (hence its common name), while the females have no horns.

Distribution and habitat

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Oryctes nasicornis inhabits the Palaearctic region, excluding the British Isles. It is the only representative of the Dynastinae family found in Northern Europe. It is widespread in the Mediterranean basin up to Pakistan, the Near East and North Africa. The rhinoceros beetle lives on wood, and the large larvae can be found in rotting wood stumps and around sawdust. At the margin of its distribution, the beetle is often found in connection with sawmills and horse racing tracks.

References

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R.-P. Dechambre & G. Lachaume (2001). The genus Oryctes (Dynastidae). The Beetles of the World. Vol. 27. Hillside Books, Canterbury. Archived from the original on 2010-08-06.

== Notes ==