Caucasus Beetle (Chalcasoma caucasus)
Image Copyright 2011 David Hinchliffe
Last Observed: July 2011, Pearl Beach – Koh Chang
Observed By: Dave Hinchliffe
There’s something about Koh Chang that seems to attract the largest of any kind of animal. This is the case with the mighty Caucasus Beetle which is a member of the Rhinocerous beetle family. These huge creatures can actually fly, not very well, but getting all that weight off the ground is an achievement in itself.
The large horns are a feature of the male of the species and they use them in displays of beetle machismo to fight each other and impress the female of the species.
The individual pictured was over five inches in length.
Image Copyright 2011 David Hinchliffe
Image Copyright 2011 David Hinchliffe
