Goliathus goliatus

Goliathus goliatus is one of the largest species in the genus Goliathus, males having a body length of 50–110 millimetres (2.0–4.3 in) and females having a body length of 54–80 millimetres (2.1–3.1 in). The pronotum (thoracic shield) is mainly black, with whitish longitudinal stripes, while the elytra are mostly dark brown in the typical form. The color of the elytra may differ greatly in some other forms, with varying amounts and patterns of brown, white and black. The elytra are mostly white in the "quadrimaculatus" form, which (along with various intermediate forms that have been named "albatus", "apicalis", "conspersus", "hieroglyphicus" and "undulatus") occur together with the more common brown typical form in Benin, eastern Nigeria and western Cameroun.[2]

This species possess a large and membranous secondary pair of wings actually used for flying. When not in use, they are kept completely folded beneath the elytra. The head is whitish, with a black Y-shaped horn in males, used as a pry bar in battles with other males over feeding sites or mates. These beetles feed primarily on tree sap and fruits.

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  Goliathus goliatus male, at the Montreal Insectarium
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  Goliathus goliatus male, dorsal side
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  Goliathus goliatus male, ventral side
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  Goliathus goliatus, male, with spread wings
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  Goliathus goliatus form "apicalis"
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  Goliathus goliatus form "conspersus"
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  Goliathus goliatus form "quadrimaculatus"

This species is widespread from western to eastern equatorial Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Western Kenya and Northwestern Tanzania).

Goliathus goliatus is mainly present in the equatorial forests and in the sub-equatorial savannah.

On January 1, 1959, a species from Gabon, believed to be the first such beetle seen alive in the United States, went on display at the American Museum of Natural History.[3]

• List of largest insects

• Natural World
• Goliathus
• Beetle Space