Source: Wikimedia Commons
Thersites Elephant Beetle
AdvancedMegasoma thersites
A small, densely hairy elephant beetle endemic to the southern Baja California peninsula. Nocturnal, comes to lights and feeds on palo verde cambium. Rarely bred, for advanced keepers.
Difficulty
Advanced
Temperature
18℃
Lifespan
Larval period 2-3 years (genus-level figure)
Size
About 45mm
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Beetle jelly, ripe fruit; larvae on fermented substrate
About
The Thersites elephant beetle (Megasoma thersites) is a small Megasoma endemic to the southern Baja California peninsula of Mexico, south of the Bay of La Paz. Japanese sources also call it the hairy elephant beetle, as both sexes have elytra and pronotum densely clothed in setae. Males have a forward-pointing median pronotal horn, and the pronotal front angles spread to about twice the head width. At about 45mm it is one of the smaller species in the genus. Adults appear in September and October, are nocturnal, come to lights, and feed on the cambium of palo verde (Parkinsonia florida subsp. peninsulare) by gumming away the bark. Ratcliffe and Moron (2005) described the first to third instar larvae. As a dryland species it is rarely bred, and no established protocol for egg-laying or larval rearing exists. As a general rule for foreign beetles, keep above 18C in winter and avoid heat over 30C; expect the genus-level larval period of 2-3 years.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Thersites Elephant Beetle
The Thersites Elephant Beetle lives Larval period 2-3 years (genus-level figure).
Size of the Thersites Elephant Beetle
The Thersites Elephant Beetle grows to About 45mm.
Temperature & humidity for the Thersites Elephant Beetle
The ideal temperature for the Thersites Elephant Beetle is 18℃.
Basic Info
Origin
Mexico (southern Baja California peninsula)
Care Specifications
Semi-aggressiveSolitaryBreeding: Hard
Sources: Beetle Farm: basic rearing guide / Wikipedia (Megasoma, ja) / UNL Generic Guide to New World Scarab Beetles / Wikipedia (es)
Breeding Records & Localities
Notable localities
Mexico (Baja California Sur)
No sourced captive size record was found.
Generation codes
- WD
- Wild-caught
- WF1
- Offspring of a wild-caught female
- F1〜
- Captive generations (same locality)
- CBF1
- Cross-locality captive-bred (reset)
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.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Megasoma thersites LeConte, 1861
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / MOE Japan: import of Scarabaeoidea beetles
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Thersites Elephant Beetle Listings
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