Xylotrupes socrates

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Xylotrupes socrates
Xylotrupes socrates (Siamese rhinoceros beetle).jpg
Adult male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Genus: Xylotrupes
Species:
X. socrates
Binomial name
Xylotrupes socrates
Schaufuss, 1864
Synonyms
  • Xylotrupes sokratesSchaufuss, 1864

Xylotrupes socrates, commonly known as the Siamese rhinoceros beetle[ citation needed ] or fighting beetle[ citation needed ] (Thai : กว่างชน),[ failed verification ] is a species of large scarab beetle belonging to the subfamily Dynastinae. It is particularly known for its role in insect fighting in Thailand.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Description

Mating Dynastid Beetle (Xylotrupes socrates) mating (7783024650).jpg
Mating
Behavior of an adult male, including walking and defensive hissing (video)

Like most dynastid beetles, the adult male of X. socrates possesses two horns: one on the head and another on the pronotum, both bifurcate and curling inward. Adult females lack these horns. Both sexes have dark chestnut-brown (is young) or black (is old) exoskeletons and elytra. [1]

Distribution

The species is widespread in south-east Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. [2]

Beetle fighting

These beetles are used for staging beetle fights, a traditional form of entertainment popular in the northern region of Thailand.[ failed verification ] They are captured and trained to become stronger and more aggressive. [3] In the fight the beetle that lifts its opponent up by its horns wins. A beetle may also win if his opponent crawls away, falls, or is overturned. [4] Insect fighting is mostly practiced in the Chiang Mai and Nan provinces of Thailand. It is also popular in Myanmar and Northern Laos. Spectators typically place bets on the fights. [5] Insect fighting coaches claim their activity provides a free pastime while drawing attention to insects that would otherwise have been ignored or simply killed as pests. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarabaeidae</span> Family of beetles

The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 35,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family has undergone significant change. Several groups formerly treated as subfamilies have been elevated to family rank, and some reduced to lower ranks. The subfamilies listed in this article are in accordance with those in Catalog of Life (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lan Na</span> Indianized state centered in present-day northern Thailand (13th–18th centuries)

The Lan Na Kingdom or The Kingdom of Lanna, also known as Lannathai, and most commonly called Lanna or Lanna Kingdom, was an Indianized state centered in present-day Northern Thailand from the 13th to the 18th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shan people</span> Southeast Asian ethnic group

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The Hercules beetle is a species of rhinoceros beetle native to the rainforests of southern Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Lesser Antilles. It is the longest extant species of beetle in the world, and is also one of the largest flying insects in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dynastinae</span> Subfamily of beetles

Dynastinae or rhinoceros beetles are a subfamily of the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae). Other common names – some for particular groups of rhinoceros beetles – include Hercules beetles, unicorn beetles or horn beetles. Over 1,500 species and 225 genera of rhinoceros beetles are known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese rhinoceros beetle</span> Species of beetle

The Japanese rhinoceros beetle, also known as the Japanese rhino beetle, the Japanese horned beetle, or by its Japanese name kabutomushi, is a species of rhinoceros beetle. They are commonly found in continental Asia in countries such as China, the Korean peninsula, Japan, and Taiwan. In these areas, this species of beetle is often found in broad-leaved forests with tropical or sub-tropical climates. This beetle is well known for the prominent cephalic horn found on males. Male Japanese rhinoceros beetles will use this horn to fight other males for territory and access to female mating partners. Upon contact, males will attempt to flip each other onto their backs or off of their feeding tree. In response to selective pressures, smaller male A. dichotoma have adapted a "sneak-like behavior". These smaller beetles will attempt to avoid physical confrontation with larger males and try to mate with females.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insect fighting</span> Activity in which insects are made to fight each other

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<i>Xylotrupes gideon</i> Species of beetle

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<i>Eupatorus gracilicornis</i> Species of beetle

Eupatorus gracilicornis, the five-horned rhinoceros beetle is a beetle that has four large horns on the prothorax and one extra-long cephalic horn. Rhinoceros beetles, the Dynastinae, are a subfamily of the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae).

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Xylotrupes siamensis is a species of rhinoceros beetle found across Asia.

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References

  1. "Xylotrupes | Hawaiian Scarab ID". idtools.org. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. "Xylotrupes socrates Schauffus 1864 – Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  3. Bangkok Post – Beetle fighting revival. Archived 10 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine .
  4. "A travel experience: Rhinoceros beetles in Thailand's combat arena – Xylotrupes gideon L. as a Gladiator". articlesextra.com. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  5. Beetle fighting. Archived 16 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine .
  6. "Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) Tourist Guide". chiangmaitouristguide.com. Retrieved 3 November 2017.