Ox Beetle

The hefty Ox Beetle makes a grand first impression, though their larvae are quite ordinary.

Ox Beetle Videos

An Ox Beetle losing its balance

The male Ox beetle has horns growing off of the pronotum ('shoulder plate'). In young males, they are more like bumps. Females do not have either. Males use these horns to fight over females.

Ox Beetles are dense-looking beetles and are quite hairy on their ventral side ('belly'). They are nocturnal, and therefore usually seen at night. Their habitat is pine forests and they can be found in most of the gulf and Atlantic coastal states. Adults eat decaying tree roots.

Nocturnal larvae are C-shaped grubs that hatch from a burrow in the ground. Females lay eggs there and bring leaf litter into the burrow so the newly hatched larvae have a food supply. As they mature, they begin to eat decaying tree roots like adults.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Scarabaeidae

Genus: Strategus

Species: anteus

Identifying Information

Scientific Name: Strategus anteus

Category: Beetle

Size (Adult; Length): 31mm to 60mm (1.21in to 2.34in)

Colors: black; brown

Descriptors: hairy, horn, rhino, bump, flying

Territorial Map

Alaska

Hawaii

Prince Edward Is.

Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic

Territorial Reach (A-to-Z)

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mexico

Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.

Beetle Anatomy

Graphic showing basic anatomy of a common North American Beetle insect

Antennae: Beetles have a pair of antennae on the head used as sensors.

Head: The head is home to the insect's eyes, antennae, and mandibles (jaws).

Thorax: Holds the three pairs of legs as well as vital internal organs.

Elytron: One of two wing cases on a Beetle that protects its wings (plural: elytra).

Wings: Appendages used for flying and kept under the elytra until needed.

Abdomen: Houses organs related to circulation, reproduction, and excretion.

Legs: Beetles have three pairs of legs located at the thorax, numbering six legs in all.

Ox Beetle (Strategus anteus)

The hefty Ox Beetle makes a grand first impression, though their larvae are quite ordinary.

Ox Beetle Videos