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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)

The ox beetle (Strategus aloeus), is an insect in the Dynastinae family (or rhinoceros beetles) and are a subfamily of the scarab beetle family Scarabaeidae, native to the Americas. Over 1,500 species and 225 genera of rhinoceros beetles are known.^[1] They were first documented into a taxonomy in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus. [1] Over 1,500 species and 225 genera of rhinoceros beetles are known.^[1] Over 1,500 species and 225 genera of rhinoceros beetles are known.^[1]

Strategus aloeus' are also known as "Little bull" or "Chiza" in Latin American countries ^[2]

Description

The "major" males of this species have three large horns on their thoraces, resembling that of a triceratops. As usual with rhinoceros beetles there is a great difference between the genders. Males are larger than females. The "minor" males have horns, as well, but the two back ones are small and the frontal horn is much smaller than that of the major males. The female ox beetles have very short horns which has little use in fighting, but they are useful for burrowing in the ground.^{[citation needed]} 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. When including the males horns, length could be as long as 1.96 in (5.0 cm). Both males and females possess a dark brown to black coloration and are non-poisonous.^[3]

Distribution

Although this species occurs in the southern United States, its populations are much higher in the Neotropical realm [2]. The actual range of the ox beetle may extend further in some areas.

Geography

Ox beetles are apparent in the southern United States [3], but have populations that are much higher in the Neotropical realm throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and parts of South America.^{[citation needed]} Some specific countries include; Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, United States. ^[4]

Ecology

Strategus aloeus are often found in warm, humid environments, often associated with decaying organic matter, typically inhabiting forests, grasslands, and gardens, where they feed on the decaying organic matter.^{[citation needed]}

Ox beetles can also be found in a variety of places placed in captivity as a pet. many people buy and sell them online as adults or as grubs; there are many online forums dedicated to the caring and breeding of S. aloeus.^{[citation needed]}

Enviromental Role

These beetles play a vital role as decomposers, breaking down organic matter and returning nutrients to the soil, by breaking down dead organisms and eating the nutrients from the dead matter in the environment around them, eventually leaving behind nutrient rich waste products that will then be used by plants and smaller decomposers. ^[5]

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

The larvae, commonly called "mealworms" or "white grubs", take around four to six months to reach the pupal stage.^[6] 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.^{[citation needed]}

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. ^[7]

Sexual Competition

This species preforms male intrasexual competition when mate seeking. It has been observed in wild habitat and in captivity that male S. aloeus will engage in combat to win possession and mating rights to a female. These fights can cause substantial damage to the participants because of their horns but because the males become zeroed in on notion of getting to mate that damage to the female in the process can be seen in the wild and in captivity. The risk far greater in the previous rather than the latter due to protocols and assured researchers.^[8] The successful male wins mating rights with the female, though the beetles remain polygynandrous.^{[citation needed]}

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 certain crops. (eg., palm oil plantations.)^{[citation needed]}

Species such as the ox beetle (Strategus aloeus), can become major pests and cause significant economic damage to human resources, e.g., in palm plantations.,^[9] Adults are considered pests because they damage and injure plantation efforts by burrowing into the roots to protect and feed their larvae. Feeding on the roots of oil palms kills the plant slowly as nutrients are taken away from the above ground plant.^{[citation needed]}

Pest control

They are major pests when uncontrolled and in proximity to oil palm plantations, especially in Papua New Guinea and Latin America. The discovery of specific pheromones(95.5:4.0:0.5 (w/w) mixture of 2-butanone, 3-pentanone and sec.-butyl acetate. ^[10] 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. ^[11] ^[12]

Prevention

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 is suggested if there are few, or introduce a biological pest control such as certain mite species or fungus strains that attack and feed on the larvae, thus reducing larger populations.^{[citation needed]}

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
Beutel, Rolf G.; Leschen, Richard A.B., eds. (2016-03-21). Coleoptera, Beetles, Volume 1, Morphology and Systematics (Archostemata, Adephaga, Myxophaga, Polyphaga partim). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110373929. ISBN 978-3-11-037392-9.
Brett C. Ratcliffe (1976). "A revision of the genus Strategus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)" (PDF). Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum. 10 (3): 93–207.
Álvarez, Hugo & Carrillo-Ruiz, Hortensia & Morón, Miguel. (2013). Horns positive allometry in a Mexican population of Strategus aloeus (L.) (coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Dynastinae). Entomotropica. 28. 87-94.
Skelley, Paul. (2003). Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of South Carolina. Biota of South Carolina 2L 1-157. Florida Entomologist - FLA ENTOMOL. 86. 496-496. 10.1653/0015-4040(2003)086[0496:BR]2.0.CO;2.
Blackwelder, R. E. (1945). Checklist of the coleopterous insects of Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and South America, pt. 3. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, 185, i–550. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.03629236.185.3
Wizzie.Brown. (2016, February 19). Ox beetles | Urban IPM. https://agrilife.org/urban-ipm/2016/02/19/ox-beetles/
Riley, Edward & Wolfe, Charles. (2003). An annotated checklist of the Scarabaeoidea of Texas (Coleoptera). Southwestern Entomologist.

External links

http://beetlespace.wz.cz/e_Strategus_aloeus_julianus.html Strategus aloeus] photos at Beetlespace.wz.cz
Strategus aloeus photos at BugGuide
Strategus aloeus photos at Goliathus.com
Specimen search - GRSciColl. (n.d.). https://scientific-collections.gbif.org/specimen/search?entity=3411207309

^ ^a ^b ^c Beutel, Rolf G.; Leschen, Richard A.B., eds. (2016-03-21). Coleoptera, Beetles, Volume 1, Morphology and Systematics (Archostemata, Adephaga, Myxophaga, Polyphaga partim). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110373929. ISBN 978-3-11-037392-9.
^ Gómez, A., & Sáenz-Aponte, A. (2015). Susceptibility variation to different entomopathogenic nematodes in Strategus aloeus L (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). SpringerPlus, 4(1).
^ Blackwelder, R. E. (1945). Checklist of the coleopterous insects of Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and South America, pt. 3. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, 185, i–550. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.03629236.185.3
^ Blackwelder, R. E. (1945). Checklist of the coleopterous insects of Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and South America, pt. 3. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, 185, i–550. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.03629236.185.3
^ https://scientific-collections.gbif.org/specimen/search?entity=3411207309
^ Beutel, Rolf G.; Leschen, Richard A.B., eds. (2016-03-21). Coleoptera, Beetles, Volume 1, Morphology and Systematics (Archostemata, Adephaga, Myxophaga, Polyphaga partim). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110373929. ISBN 978-3-11-037392-9.
^ Beutel, Rolf G.; Leschen, Richard A.B., eds. (2016-03-21). Coleoptera, Beetles, Volume 1, Morphology and Systematics (Archostemata, Adephaga, Myxophaga, Polyphaga partim). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110373929. ISBN 978-3-11-037392-9.
^ Beutel, Rolf G.; Leschen, Richard A.B., eds. (2016-03-21). Coleoptera, Beetles, Volume 1, Morphology and Systematics (Archostemata, Adephaga, Myxophaga, Polyphaga partim). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110373929. ISBN 978-3-11-037392-9.
^ 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).
^ 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.
^ 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.

[handbook_coleoptera_vol2-1] Beutel, Rolf G.; Leschen, Richard A.B., eds. (2016-03-21). Coleoptera, Beetles, Volume 1, Morphology and Systematics (Archostemata, Adephaga, Myxophaga, Polyphaga partim). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110373929. ISBN 978-3-11-037392-9.

[2] Gómez, A., & Sáenz-Aponte, A. (2015). Susceptibility variation to different entomopathogenic nematodes in Strategus aloeus L (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). SpringerPlus, 4(1).

[3] Blackwelder, R. E. (1945). Checklist of the coleopterous insects of Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and South America, pt. 3. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, 185, i–550. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.03629236.185.3

[4] Blackwelder, R. E. (1945). Checklist of the coleopterous insects of Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and South America, pt. 3. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, 185, i–550. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.03629236.185.3

[5] ttps://scientific-collections.gbif.org/specimen/search?entity=3411207309

[6] Beutel, Rolf G.; Leschen, Richard A.B., eds. (2016-03-21). Coleoptera, Beetles, Volume 1, Morphology and Systematics (Archostemata, Adephaga, Myxophaga, Polyphaga partim). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110373929. ISBN 978-3-11-037392-9.

[7] Beutel, Rolf G.; Leschen, Richard A.B., eds. (2016-03-21). Coleoptera, Beetles, Volume 1, Morphology and Systematics (Archostemata, Adephaga, Myxophaga, Polyphaga partim). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110373929. ISBN 978-3-11-037392-9.

[8] Beutel, Rolf G.; Leschen, Richard A.B., eds. (2016-03-21). Coleoptera, Beetles, Volume 1, Morphology and Systematics (Archostemata, Adephaga, Myxophaga, Polyphaga partim). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110373929. ISBN 978-3-11-037392-9.

[9] 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).

[10] 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.

[11] Rochat, D., Ramirez-Lucas, P., Malosse, C., Aldana, R., Kakul, T., & Morin, J. (2000).

[12] 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.

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