The King of Beetles

In Ecology, the term beetles refers to all insects under the order Coleoptera, for example, Fork-horn Rhinoceros Beetle, Ladybird Beetles and Tiger Beetles. It is the largest order of insects. In order to protect themselves, they have evolved various appearances and body shapes. In particular, the Unicorn Beetle, also called the Rhinoceros Beetle, and Stag Beetles possess strong and powerful mandibles, which are called “horns” in order to fight for territory and mates.

Stag Beetles are under the family Lucanidae, while Unicorn Beetles are under the family Dynastinae. They are further divided into different species.

The previous generation of Hong Kongers fought with crickets, and played with the “Compass Bug”, which is the cocoon form of butterflies or moths. Meanwhile, Japanese children keep Unicorn Beetles and Stag Beetles as pets for fun. These Beetles also play a main role in several popular Japanese Manga and television series, such as Mushiking : The King of Beetles and Kamen Rider Kabuto, showing how the beetles have a mighty and domineering reputation among the Japanese.

The Chinese names of the beetles originate from the names of Japanese Samurai gear. The helmets of Samurai were called “Kabuto” (兜), and the Kabutos of Shogun would have horn-like decorations in front of the forehead, which were called “Kuwagata” (鍬形). Despite both insects being masters of martial arts, their horns have completely different structures.

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"Kabuto" Unicorn Beetles

There are huge differences between the appearances of male and female Unicorn Beetles. Male beetles have horns that can open and close in an upwards or downwards movement, with a fixed pronotal horn (attached to the body) on the top and a head horn on the bottom that can move up and down along with the head. It’s killer move is to use all its strength to throw its opponent off a tree by shovelling its opponent using its head horn. It is said that Unicorn Beetles can push or lift objects that are 850 times its own weight, which is equivalent to a human being lifting a mobile crane weighing 65 tonnes! Some Unicorn Beetles with longer head horns can even be used to squeeze enemies. In Hong Kong, representatives of rhinoceros beetles include the Unicorn Beetle (Xylotrupes gideon).

However, the horns of the Fork-horn Rhinoceros Beetle are too short, and cannot close completely when biting.

From left

1. Fork-horn Rhinocerus Beetle (Male) ©️ Wildcreatures Hong Kong 2. Fork-horn Rhinocerus Beetle (Female)

3. Unicorn Beetle: Trichogomphus mongol (Male) ©️ Wildcreatures Hong Kong

4. Unicorn Beetle: Trichogomphus mongol (Female) ➤➤ Tanks of the insect world : a Unicorn Beetle raising its opponent in the air

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“Kuwagata” Stag beetles

Stag beetles are famous for attacking from both flanks, and can lift and even cleave their opponents! All Stag beetles have horns, and the horns of males are larger than that of females. Representatives of Stag beetles from Hong Kong include Prosopocoilus biplagiatus, which appear from time to time around Lung Fu Shan. It has bright orange patterns on its back, which are one of the few Stag beetles that are more colorful in Hong Kong. Besides it’s horns, you can admire it’s adorable comb-shaped antennae!

From left

1. Stag Beetle: Prosopocoilus biplagiatus (Male) 2. Stag Beetle: Prosopocoilus biplagiatus (Female) 2. Stag Beetle: Prosopocoilus oweni (Male) 4. Stag Beetle: Neolucanus sinicus (Male)

➤➤ A Chilean Stag Beetle found a potential mate on a tree, so it lifted and threw its opponents off the tree one by one to finally win the favour of the female beetle, but for some reason unknown decided to throw its girlfriend off the tree as well after mating.

Stag Beetle: Prosopocoilus biplagiatus (Male) Stag Beetle: Prosopocoilus biplagiatus (Female) Stag Beetle: Prosopocoilus oweni (Male) Stag Beetle: Prosopocoilus oweni (Female) Unicorn Beetle: Trichogomphus mongol (Female) Unicorn Beetle: Trichogomphus mongol (Male) ©️ Wildcreatures Hong Kong