Fauna
Insect

Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle

Trypoxylus dichotomus

Also known as Kabutomushi, Japanese Horned Beetle, Japanese Rhino Beetle, Kabuto Beetle

Renowned for the bifurcated horn gracing male heads, Japanese rhinoceros beetles patrol oak trees after dusk to sip sweet, fermenting sap. Males engage in dramatic wrestling matches, using their impressive headgear to pry rivals off bark surfaces to win feeding rights and female attention. Their thick grubs play a vital role in forest health by breaking down decaying leaf litter and rotting logs into rich humus.

NocturnalHornedForest Dweller
Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle reference1 / 7
(c) Kim, Hyun-tae, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kim, Hyun-tae · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyOak tree sap, Fermenting fruit juices, Rotting wood
Predators
  • Crows
  • Raccoons
  • Centipedes
ThreatsHabitat loss, over-collection, introduced predators
HabitatsSubtropical and temperate broadleaf oak forests, urban parks
Life span1–2 years (up to 4 months as adults)
Classification
  1. FamilyScarabaeidae
  2. SpeciesTrypoxylus dichotomus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Spotting: Search near sap flows on oak trunks after dusk with a dim red light.
  • Handling: Let adults crawl onto open palms rather than pulling them off bark.
Related species
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