Care Sheet – Mars Rhino Beetle, (Megasoma mars)

Common Name: Mars Rhino Beetle
Scientific Name: Megasoma mars
Distribution: South America (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru)

Guiness World Record Size:
Wild – 140 mm
Captive Breeding – 132.7 mm

Egg to Adult: 24 months
Adult Lifespan: 8 months
Pupal Stage Duration: 3 month
Maturation Time of Fresh Adults: 2 months

Egg Incubation Time-Length: 1 month
Rearing Temperature: Room temperature (18-25C)

Extant Species with Distribution:
1. Megasoma mars – Brazil, Colombia, Equador, Guyana, Peru
2. Megasoma actaeon – Brazil, French Guyana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela
3. Megasoma anubis – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
4. Megsaoma cedrosa – Mexico
5. Megsaoma elephas – Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela
6. Megsaoma gyas – Brazil
7. Megsaoma janus – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela
8. Megsaoma joergenseni – Argentina, Paraguay
9. Megsaoma lecontei – Mexico
10. Megsaoma pachecoi– Mexico
11. Megsaoma punctulatus – USA
12. Megsaoma rex – Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru
13. Megsaoma sleeperi – USA
14. Megsaoma theristes – Mexico
15. Megsaoma vogti – Mexico, USA

Species Description:
The Mars Rhino Beetle, (Megasoma mars) is the largest species in the Megasoma genus of rhino beetles. The genus name – Megasoma – literally translates to “mega=big” + “soma=body” when translated from Ancient Greek which aptly fits the large, bulky characteristics of this group of beetles. Species in the Megasoma genus can be split into two distinct groups: one group which are covered in microscopic hairs all over such as Megasoma elephas, and the other being smooth and without hairs like most regular beetle species. Megasoma mars belongs to the latter non-hairy group within the Megasoma genus.

The larvae of Megasoma can grow to significant sizes, and a closely related species called Megasoma rex currently holds the world record for the heaviest insect in the world. A captive bred larva back in 2013 reached a whopping 228 grams before pupation, which is 3x heavier than the insect which holds the title of second place (Giant Tree Weta).

Like other species in the Megasoma genus, the body of Megasoma mars is incredibly wide and large in mass which is unrivalled by any other Rhino Beetle genus.  Even the longest beetle species in the world – Dynastes hercules – looks average sized in comparison to the wide Megasoma species due to their bulk.

Although Megasoma mars does not have any distinct subspecies, many of the species in this genus look very similar and have a distribution range all over Central American and South America. I have listed the 15 different species along with their distribution above.

Food for Beetle Larvae:
As with most rhino beetle species (Dynastinae subfamily), the larvae will feed on substrate that is mainly composed of decayed wood of trees in the Beech family (Fabaceae family) which include oaks (Quercus spp.), beech, (Fagus spp.) and chestnut, (Castanea spp.). A general beetle substrate guide that covers the different types of substrates for different types of beetles can be found HERE.

Unlike with stag beetle larvae, a portion of the substrate for rhino beetle larvae can be replaced with decayed leaves of the same tree species if there is a shortage of decayed wood. I recommend that the ratio of leaves should not exceed the ratio of 1:4 (20% : 80%) of leaves to wood respectively.

To raise large adults, home-made Flake Soil should be used instead of leaves / wood collected from nature. Flake Soil is the term used for fresh sawdust that has been decayed under controlled conditions with additional protein sources that results in a uniform, earthy substrate that is rich in nutrients.

To view my tried and tested flake soil recipe with a breakdown of tips and tricks, please click HERE.

Food for Adult Beetles:
Adult beetles can be fed on beetle jelly or most sweet fruits such as bananas, apples, mangos, peaches, melons and watermelons to name a few. Adult females should preferably be given fruits that are higher in protein content such as bananas to aid in their egg production.

Foods to avoid for adult beetles are certain types of sugar-water, and fruits high in acidity such as those in the Citrus genus (oranges, lemons, grapefruits, etc.). Fruits that are high in acidity are said to disrupt the pH balance in the gut of some species, potentially leading to refusal to feed after a certain period of time.

Sugar-water made with sucrose (table sugar) should be avoided, as with butterflies, as sucrose has a tendency to re-crystalise in the digestive tract, rupturing and killing the adult beetle from the inside over time. A sugar water mixture made from fructose (fruit sugar) on the other hand is safe to use as fructose will remain in solution when ingested.

BACK TO RHINO BEETLE SPECIES LIST

Photos from my Breeding: