Source: Wikimedia Commons
Royal Goliath Beetle
AdvancedGoliathus regius
A large West African flower beetle with whitish elytra patterned in black and, in males, a black Y-shaped head horn. The larvae are carnivorous and need a high-protein diet, and losses at pupation are heavy, so it ranks among the hard species to breed.
Difficulty
Advanced
Temperature
20〜28℃
Lifespan
Over a year in captivity (adults)
Size
Males 50-115mm, females 56-82mm
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Adults take tree sap and fruit; larvae require animal protein
About
The royal goliath beetle (Goliathus regius) was described by Klug in 1835 and is one of the largest members of its genus; males measure 50-115 mm and females 56-82 mm. The elytra are whitish with an intricate black pattern and the pronotum carries a broad black longitudinal stripe. Males bear a black Y-shaped horn on the head that is used in fights with other males. GBIF holds most records from Ghana (45) and Cote d'Ivoire (20), so the species belongs to the rainforest belt along the Gulf of Guinea. The larvae grow fast and are cannibalistic enough in captivity to attack other larvae. Ben's Beetle Breeding Pages notes that exports from Cote d'Ivoire are rare and that no breeding report for this species is known, so both stock and successful rearing are hard to come by.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Size of the Royal Goliath Beetle
The Royal Goliath Beetle grows to Males 50-115mm, females 56-82mm.
Basic Info
Origin
West Africa (Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Nigeria and neighbouring countries)
Lifespan
Over a year in captivity (adults)
Size
Males 50-115mm, females 56-82mm
Temperature
20〜28℃
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Care Specifications
SolitaryBreeding: Very hard
Sources: Goliathus regius - Wikipedia (EN; size, morphology, larval period, range) / Ben's Beetle Breeding Pages - Goliathus regius (Ivory Coast, rare exports, absence of breeding reports) / Ben's Beetle Breeding Pages - Breeding Goliathus (cannibalistic larvae, protein feeding, temperature cycles, losses at pupation) / GBIF occurrence records for Goliathus regius (counts by country)
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Primary sources
- Wikipedia
- Ministry of the Environment, Invasive Species Act: "Guidance for Those Importing Live Insects in Scarabaeoidea"
- CITES Appendix (checklist.cites.org)
- Ben's Beetle Breeding Pages - Goliathus regius (Ivory Coast, rare exports, absence of breeding reports)
- Ben's Beetle Breeding Pages - Breeding Goliathus (cannibalistic larvae, protein feeding, temperature cycles, losses at pupation)
- GBIF occurrence records for Goliathus regius (counts by country)
- GBIF
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Goliathus regius Klug, 1835
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Plant Protection Act: When importing live specimens of Scarabaeoidea (including rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles, flower beetles, etc.), a species identification certificate issued by the exporting country government agency or equivalent must be attached in accordance with the Invasive Species Act (import ports are limited to Narita, Chubu, Kansai, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima airports). This species itself is not a designated invasive species, and import is possible upon submission of the certificate.
Sources: Ministry of the Environment, Invasive Species Act: "Guidance for Those Importing Live Insects in Scarabaeoidea" / CITES Appendix (checklist.cites.org)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Royal Goliath Beetle Listings
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