Augosoma centaurus

This article is about the African beetle. For other uses, see Centaurus (disambiguation).

Augosoma centaurus
File:Aegosoma centaurus.jpg
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Scarabaeiformia
Family:	Scarabaeidae
Genus:	Augosoma
Species:	A. centaurus
Binomial name
Augosoma centaurus (Fabricius, 1775)

Augosoma centaurus, the centaurus beetle, is a species of rhinoceros beetle found in tropical Africa, which measures about 40–90 mm. As common in many insect species, the male is larger than the female and usually two males will fight for a female for mating.

Appearance

The centaurus beetle's adult morphology is strikingly similar to that of beetles from the genus Dynastes which originate from tropical America, which led to its initial classification to that genus. Eventually, it was moved to its present genus to avoid confusion as even the genus Xylotrupes from the southeast Asian tropics have a similar form. The male has large horns and is considerably bigger than the female, which has no horns as well.

Larvae

The larva of the centaurus beetle has a dark row of spots which is visible along the side of its body, known as the spiracles. These are openings leading to its tracheal network, which is the insect equivalent of the vertebrate lung. The spiracles could be considered as the insect version of nostrils. Spiracles are also present in the adult beetle and located along the sides of the abdomen; however, they have no distinct color and quite unnoticeable.

Origin of the name

The origin of the name of the Centaurus beetle may be the Greek centaur.

External links

• Family Scarabidae - Augosoma centaurus (Centaurus beetle) specs and pics