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Strategus aloeus

Strategus aloeus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Family: Scarabaeidae
Order: Coleoptera
Class: Insecta
Phylum / Division: Arthropoda
Kingdom: Animalia

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Description


Strategus aloeus, the ox beetle, is a species of rhinoceros beetle native to the Americas.

 The "major" males of this species have three large horns on their thoraces, resembling Triceratops. The "minor" males have horns, as well, but the two back ones are small and the frontal horn is much shorter than the horn in major males. The female ox beetle has a very short horn which has little use in fighting, but is used for digging in the ground. These beetles grow to about long as adults when the horns are excluded in the males.

Distribution: Although this species occurs in the southern United States, its populations are much higher in the Neotropical realm, throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and parts of South America.

Breeding: The larvae of this species feed on roots in the ground, while the adults feed on flowers and all sorts of fruit. The larvae take around four to six months to reach the pupal stage. The pupal stage can be shortened in captivity by placing the pupae in a warm area. The adults are active from May to November, and during this time both males and females try to mate. These beetles are very common near lights in the summer and can be collected in large numbers in some areas. Their larvae are sometimes considered a pest because they can damage lawns and gardens by feeding on the roots.

Source: Wikipedia, article Strategus aloeus. Content adapted from Wikipedia, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessed on 21/09/2026.





Geographic distribution


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Species photographs

Count: 2

Foto
Photography ID: 705637
  Adult

Buritaca
Magdalena
Colombia
03/02/2025
Diego Alfonso Rosa
Foto
Photography ID: 705636
  Adult

Buritaca
Magdalena
Colombia
02/24/2025
Diego Alfonso Rosa


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Species records

Count: 2



Page 1 of 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
253006502/03/2025ColombiaMagdalenaTay Beach Hotel, BuritacaDiego Alfonso Rosa
253006424/02/2025ColombiaMagdalenaTay Beach Hotel, BuritacaDiego Alfonso Rosa
Page 1 of 1

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Strategus aloeus – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 22/09/2026.