Megasoma elephas (Fabricius, 1775)

Gillett, Conrad P. D. T., 2009, New records of dynastine scarab beetles in the tribes Oryctini, Agaocephalini and Dynastini from Cayo district, Belize (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (99), pp. 1-9 : 6-7

Megasoma elephas (Fabricius, 1775)

Specimens examined. 4 (2 males and 2 females)

Localities. Las Cuevas (2), Pook’s Hill (2)

Temporal data. September (2), no date (2)

Distribution. Southern Mexico to Venezuela (Ratcliffe and Cave 2006). The species was recorded from Cayo by Bates (1888) and from British Honduras by Blackwelder (1944). The distribution map in Lachaume (1985) appears to include Belize within the distribution of the species.

Remarks. The two specimens collected at Las Cuevas were donated to me by Andrew Matthews (University of Edinburgh) but were not retained as they had deteriorated and disarticulated. The species is active towards the end of the rainy season and is often attracted to lights (A. Matthews, pers. comm.)