Atlas Beetle

Chalcosoma atlas is one of the largest beetles in Southeast Asia, with adult males reaching 11-13 cm including the dramatic horn structure. Males have three forward-pointing horns: a long one extending from the head and two longer ones from the thorax. The horns are used in male-male combat over access to females and feeding sites on rotting fruit. Two males meeting on a tree branch will engage in 'wedging' contests: each tries to slide his head and thoracic horns under the opponent and lift, throwing the loser off the branch. The winner mates with the watching female. Atlas beetles are major show species in the Japanese pet-beetle hobby — captive-bred males trade for hundreds of US dollars, and the species' larvae are a staple of the captive-rearing industry. Larvae develop in rotting wood for 12-18 months before pupating; adults live a few months. The species ranges across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and southern China.