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Male Strategus aloeus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Scarabaeidae
Genus:	Strategus
Species:	S. aloeus
Binomial name
Strategus aloeus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Strategus aloeus, the ox beetle, also known as "Little bull" or "Chiza" in Latin American countries are a species of rhinoceros beetle native to the Americas.

Description

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 have very short horn which has little use in fighting, but is used for digging in the ground. These beetles grow to about 1.0 to 1.5 in (2.5 to 3.8 cm) long as adults when the horns are excluded in the males. Both males and females possess a dark brown or black coloration and are non-poisonous.

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.

Ecology

Strategus aloeus' typically inhabit forests, grasslands, and gardens, where they feed on decaying organic matter.

Ox beetles can also be found in a variety of places placed in captivity as a pet.

Geography

Ox beetles are apparent in the southern United States, but have populations that are much higher in the Neotropical realm; throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and parts of South America. Some specific countries include; Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, United States.

Enviromental Role

These beetles play a vital role as decomposers, breaking down organic matter and returning nutrients to the soil.

Diet

The larvae of this species feed on roots in the ground, decaying wood, and occasionally fruits; while the adults feed on flowers, various leaves, and all sorts of fruit.

Reproduction

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.

Sexual Dimorphism

Male and female Ox beetles exhibit distinct physical features. Males have larger and more prominent horns, while females have relatively smaller ones. This distinction helps these beetles in their reproductive success as they navigate their environment and serve as pollinators for various plants.

Mating Habits

The larvae, commonly called "mealworms" or "white grubs", 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 larvae hatch from eggs and later develop into pupae before they reach adulthood.

Sexual Competition

This species preforms male intrasexual competition when mate seeking.

As Pests

It’s important to note that these beetles do not pose a significant threat to plants or crops, as their feeding habits are not usually destructive but there are some cases where Strategus aloeus are found to be an economic threat on cetain crops. (eg., palm oil plantations.)

Some species, such as the Ox beetle (Strategus aloeus), can become major pests, e.g., in palm plantations., Their larvae are considered pests because they damage and injure plantation efforts by feeding on the roots.

Pest control

Strategus aloeus are 5-cm long Rhinoceros beetles. They are major pests on oil palms, especially in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Latin America. The discovery of the specific pheromones (95.5:4.0:0.5 (w/w) mixture of 2-butanone, 3-pentanone and sec.-butyl acetate) in this Oryctes species in relation to the fauna spheres (Indo-Australian and Neotropical) allowed for the furtherment of developing mass trapping using a synthetic pheromone(s) and other improvements in the modes of the pest control used on plantation sites.

To prevent and control Ox Beetle infestations consider; monitoring for signs of burrowing in soil or plant damage, physical removal of adult beetles when discovered, or introduction of a biological pest control by introducing mites that feed on the larvae, thus reducing the populations.

Image Gallery

• 
  Ox beetle (male left, female right)
• 
  Adult male
• 
  Adult female

References

• Sendoya-Corrales, C. A., Bustillo, A. E., & Rodríguez, A. M. (2023). "Native Enemies of Strategus aloeus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Oil Palm Plantations in Colombia" Florida Entomologist, 106(3). https://doi.org/10.1653/024.106.0308
• Rochat, D., Ramirez-Lucas, P., Malosse, C., Aldana, R., Kakul, T., & Morin, J. (2000). Role of solid-phase microextraction in the identification of highly volatile pheromones of two Rhinoceros beetles Scapanes australis and Strategus aloeus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae). Journal of Chromatography A, 885(1–2), 433–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0021-9673(99)01049-3
• Gómez, A., & Sáenz-Aponte, A. (2015). Susceptibility variation to different entomopathogenic nematodes in Strategus aloeus L (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). SpringerPlus, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-015-1412-x

Further Readings

• Dechambre (R.-P.) & Lachaume (G.) The Beetles of the World, volume 27, The genus Oryctes (Dynastidae), Hillside Books, Canterbury [1]
• Coin, Patrick and Phillip Harpootlian. "Species Strategus aloeus". Online: http://bugguide.net/node/view/6278. July 29, 2006.

External links

• Strategus aloeus photos at Beetlespace.wz.cz
• Strategus aloeus photos at BugGuide
• Strategus aloeus photos at Goliathus.com