Strategus aloeus (Linnaeus, 1758)

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 : 5

Strategus aloeus (Linnaeus, 1758)

( Fig. 5 )

Specimens examined. 9 (4 males and 5 females). BMNH, MGCB and JKCE.

Localities. Las Cuevas (8), Pook’s Hill (1)

Temporal data. May (1), June (8)

Distribution. Southern USA to central Bolivia and Brazil ( Alvarez et al. 2008). The species has been recorded from British Honduras under the name Strategus julianus Burmeister by Bates (1888) and by Blackwelder (1944), and as S. aloeus from Belize (Stann Creek) by Ratcliffe (1976).

Remarks. In May and June 2006, more females than males of this species were recorded from Las Cuevas and Pook’s Hill. Surprisingly, this very widespread species was not as abundant as the other sympatric species of the genus in Cayo (see below). The specimens studied from Cayo are smaller and less robust than typical South American specimens of the same species. Biological information for this species was discussed by Ratcliffe and Cave (2006). New district record for Cayo.

Figures

Figure 4-8. Dynastinae collected at Las Cuevas research station, Cayo, Belize, during June 2006. Male specimens illustrated.4) Enema endymion. 5) Strategus aloeus.6) Strategus longichomperus. 7) Strategus jugurtha.8) Spodistes mniszechi. Photographs by James Kitson.