Goliath beetles are among the heaviest beetles in the natural world and one of the strongest bugs on the planet.
Where does the Goliath beetle live?
Native to the many forests of Africa, Goliath beetles belong to a genus called Goliathus that includes at least five different species: G. goliatus, G. regius, G. cacicus, G. orientalis, and G. albosignatus. They are part of the wider scarab beetle family, which includes 30,000 species of beetle.
One of the largest species of Goliath beetle is G. regius, aka the Royal Goliath, notable for its striking black-and-white appearance that’s reminiscent of a Rorschach test. Growing up to 10 centimeters (just under 4 inches) in length, they live in parts of West Africa, including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
G. goliatus can grow to similar sizes but are located further south in western and eastern equatorial Africa around Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzanian, and Uganda.
Goliathus regius on display at the Milan Natural History Museum.
How much does the Goliath beetle weigh?
There’s some dispute over how heavy they can grow. Some authorities have cited that some Goliath beetles can weigh up to 70 to 100 grams (2.5 to 3.5 ounces), although this is thought to refer to their sausage-sized grubs. As per Guinness World Records, adult Goliath beetles typically weigh between 40 to 50 grams (1.4–1.7 ounces).
What do Goliath beetles eat?
As you can tell by their size, Goliath beetles are big eaters. They live on an omnivorous diet that includes everything from tree sap and fruit – rich in sugars – to the remains of decaying animals – high in protein.
How much can a Goliath beetle lift?
Growing to the size of a modest avocado, these biblically big beetles can lift weights around 850 times heavier than their own body weight – that’s the equivalent of an average human lifting two sperm whales.
What about Hercules?
In the extremely diverse world of beetles, there’s stiff competition for record-holders. Actaeon beetle (Megasoma actaeon), elephant beetle (Megasoma elephas), and titan beetle (Titanus giganteus) can all grow to similar weights as Goliath beetles and there’s no consensus on who takes the crown.
When it comes to length, the Hercules beetle is significantly bigger than the Goliath beetle thanks to its lengthy thoracic horn that allows it to reach lengths of up to 17.3 centimeters (7 inches). This species is, surprisingly, still capable of flying despite its colossal size. Some sources also suggest it can rival the Goliath in weight, although that is likely to refer to its larvae, which are also very, very large.
You’re not going to see a Hercules beetle go head-to-head with a Goliath beetle, however. Hercules beetles fill a different ecological niche halfway across the globe in the Americas, inhabiting pockets of rainforest across southern Mexico, Central America, and South America.
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