Satanas beetle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Satanas beetle |
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| Dynastes satanas | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Genus: | Dynastes |
| Species: |
D. satanas
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| Binomial name | |
| Dynastes satanas Moser, 1909
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The Satanas beetle (scientific name: Dynastes satanas) is a type of large beetle. It belongs to a group of beetles called Scarabaeidae. Sometimes, its name is spelled "satanus" by mistake.
This beetle is quite rare. It is protected because people have collected too many of them. Also, the places where they live are disappearing. Because of this, the Satanas beetle is on a special list. This list is from a group called CITES. CITES helps protect animals and plants that are in danger.
What the Satanas Beetle Looks Like
Male Satanas beetles can grow to be very long. They can be about 5 to 11.5 centimeters (2 to 4.5 inches) in length. Female beetles are smaller, usually about 3 to 5.5 centimeters (1.2 to 2.2 inches) long.
Males have two horns. One large horn is on their upper body part, called the pronotum. This horn has soft, reddish hair underneath it. A smaller horn grows from their head. Both male and female beetles have black bodies. Their upper body and wing covers are also black. Female beetles have a rounded front part of their head.
Life Cycle of the Satanas Beetle
These beetles have a life cycle that lasts about two years. The female beetle lays between 25 and 40 eggs. These eggs hatch after about two months.
The young beetles, called larvae, live for about 1.5 to 2 years. During this time, they eat dead tree trunks. Adult beetles have a different diet. They like to eat fruits, tree sap, and nectar from flowers.
Where the Satanas Beetle Lives
The Satanas beetle lives only in Bolivia. This country is in South America. You can find these beetles in moist forest areas. They live in the mountains at high elevations. This means they are found between 900 and 2,200 meters (about 2,950 to 7,200 feet) above sea level.
