Japanese rhinoceros beetle of the scarab beetles family is primarily indigenous to Japan, Taiwan, China, and Korea. They have eight subspecies, some of them being Allomyrina dichotoma dichotoma and Allomyrina dichotoma septentrionalis. It is alternately called kabutomushi, with ‘mushi’ meaning insect in Japan and kabuto translating to ‘helmet’.
Size: Males – 40 to 80 mm (1.57 – 3.14 inches); Females – 40 to 60 mm (1.57 – 2.36 inches)
Color: They may vary from reddish to dark brown, with the lower part of their body appearing black, becol3s red and white eyes.
Other Characteristic Features: The males of this species have a lean body, long horn in the shape of ‘y’ that they mostly use during mating and demarcating their territories. Their female counterparts have a chubbier appearance with shorter horns alongcol3 a bump on the head. They even look hairier than the males preventing the humus from sticking on their body while laying eggs.
The larvae are large with a pale white body that produces wriggling movements.
The larva makes small chambers in their dwellings where the pupal phase begins.
The eggs are laid on the ground, attaining a round or oval shape.
| Other Names | Japanese horned beetle, kabutomushi |
| Adult lifespan | Approximately 4 months |
| Duration of larval stage | 8 – 12 days |
| Distribution | Japan particularly in the Okinawa, Honshu, and Kyushu islands, eastern China, Korean Peninsula, and Taiwan |
| Habitat | Broad-leaved forests and mountainous regions |
| Seasons active from | June – August |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Decayed plant matter Adults: Sap, nectar, and fruits of host plants |
Like most other rhinoceros beetles, the Japanese rhinoceros beetle also harms plants by skeletonizing their leaves. However, the extent of the damage caused by them is unknown.
Image Source: goodricha.weebly.com, abrowntks.weebly.com, abrowntks.weebly.com, scontent.fccu2-1.fna.fbcdn.net, factsjustforkids.com, files.tofugu.com
Japanese rhinoceros beetle of the scarab beetles family is primarily indigenous to Japan, Taiwan, China, and Korea. They have eight subspecies, some of them being Allomyrina dichotoma dichotoma and Allomyrina dichotoma septentrionalis. It is alternately called kabutomushi, with ‘mushi’ meaning insect in Japan and kabuto translating to ‘helmet’.
Size: Males – 40 to 80 mm (1.57 – 3.14 inches); Females – 40 to 60 mm (1.57 – 2.36 inches)
Color: They may vary from reddish to dark brown, with the lower part of their body appearing black, becol3s red and white eyes.
Other Characteristic Features: The males of this species have a lean body, long horn in the shape of ‘y’ that they mostly use during mating and demarcating their territories. Their female counterparts have a chubbier appearance with shorter horns alongcol3 a bump on the head. They even look hairier than the males preventing the humus from sticking on their body while laying eggs.
The larvae are large with a pale white body that produces wriggling movements.
The larva makes small chambers in their dwellings where the pupal phase begins.
The eggs are laid on the ground, attaining a round or oval shape.
| Other Names | Japanese horned beetle, kabutomushi |
| Adult lifespan | Approximately 4 months |
| Duration of larval stage | 8 – 12 days |
| Distribution | Japan particularly in the Okinawa, Honshu, and Kyushu islands, eastern China, Korean Peninsula, and Taiwan |
| Habitat | Broad-leaved forests and mountainous regions |
| Seasons active from | June – August |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Decayed plant matter Adults: Sap, nectar, and fruits of host plants |
Like most other rhinoceros beetles, the Japanese rhinoceros beetle also harms plants by skeletonizing their leaves. However, the extent of the damage caused by them is unknown.
Image Source: goodricha.weebly.com, abrowntks.weebly.com, abrowntks.weebly.com, scontent.fccu2-1.fna.fbcdn.net, factsjustforkids.com, files.tofugu.com
