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Goliath Beetle (Goliathus goliatus)

Goliathus goliatus

The Goliathus goliatus, the legendary Goliath Beetle. It is the undisputed giant of the cetonia family and one of the most voluminous and heavy insects ever appeared on planet Earth (males can exceed 4.3 inches and 100 grams in weight, as big as the palm of a human hand). It is an armored titan with a regal design: thorax zebra-striped with dark black and white longitudinal bands, with immense velvety-colored elytra that vary from intense brick-red, to burgundy, to chalk white. Unlike the Dynastes (rhinoceros), the Goliath has a huge Y-shaped forked 'pitchfork' horn to overturn rivals. It is the 'Holy Grail' of entomology and the supreme testing ground for any expert breeder in the world: the cyclopean and voracious larvae are strictly CARNIVOROUS; they do not tolerate standard wood substrate but require continuous, lethal (if not dosed well) loads of protein (premium dry kibble for dogs or cats), immense spaces and maniacally controlled temperatures and humidity for dozens of months to avoid death by stress or gas asphyxiation.

Taxonomy
Class:Insecta
Order:Coleoptera
Family:Scarabaeidae
Genus:Goliathus
Species:Goliathus goliatus

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

50 - 70 %

Day temperature

22 - 26 °C

Night temperature

20 - 22 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: The cited taxonomic record does not characterize geographic range or habitat for Goliathus goliatus.
Taxonomy and Genetics: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy lists Goliathus goliatus (Linnaeus, 1771) as a species in the genus Goliathus, family Scarabaeidae. The cited record does not provide genetic results.
Behaviour and Habits: The cited taxonomic record does not provide behavioural observations for this species.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: The cited taxonomic record does not provide a morphological description or sexual-dimorphism measurements; none are inferred here.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: The cited taxonomic record identifies Goliathus goliatus as a scarabaeid beetle. It does not establish captive enclosure, substrate or furnishing parameters.
Lighting and Heating: The cited record provides no captive lighting or temperature protocol.
Humidity and Hydration: The cited record provides no captive humidity or hydration target.
Feeding and Supplementation: The cited record provides no captive diet or supplementation protocol.
Compatibility and Coexistence: The cited record does not establish cohabitation criteria.
Health and Common Diseases: The cited record provides no veterinary guidance.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Africa (Foreste equatoriali primarie, altissime canopee pluviali incontaminate in Congo, Camerun, Gabon).

Origin

Africa and Madagascar

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet
No verified data available
Life expectancy
No verified data available
Adult size
11 cm
The catalog's scalar value is 11 cm. The Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Chile — Goliathus goliatus source reports a maximum adult measurement of 11 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Goliathus goliatus. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Lifestyle/Microhabitat
No verified data available
Activity cycle
No verified data available
Sociality
No verified data available
Reproduction
No verified data available
Venom level
No verified data available
Handling tolerance
No verified data available
Brumation
No verified data available
Molting
No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

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Last updated: 08/10/2026