Phyllognathus excavatum (Forster)

(Also known as Phyllognathus silenus Fabricius).

Common name: Common rhinoceros beetle.

Systematic position: Insecta, Holometabola, Coleoptera, Scarabaidae.

Distribution: North Africa, Central Europe, Ukraine, Mediterranean Basin, Arabia peninsula, Iran, India.

Morphology: The adults are shiny brown-red in color, the females almost 20 mm in length, males 25 mm. The males bear a long, recurved horn, the female horn is much smaller. The larva (grub) is C-shaped, slow moving, whitish and almost 50 mm long.

Life history: The larvae usually live in compost-rich soils, feeding on decomposing organic matter and small roots. The females are seldom seen, because they lay their eggs in the soil or in the dung piles. They raise 3 annual generations, their populations peaking in late summer, when they are attracted to street lights.

Economic importance: Phyllognathus excavatum is a minor pest of citrus and of grapes, feeding on the young roots of the former in nurseries, on the leaves of the latter.

References

Alali, S. 2015. Ecological and biological studies of dome species of Scarabaeidae and life cycle of Phyllognathus excavatus in Damascus countryside. Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 4: 1169-1182.

Drumont, A. and Saldaitis, A. 2011. New records of Palearctic Dynastinae (2): Phyllognathus excavatum (Forster) in the Arabian Peninsula (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Dynastidae). Lambillionea 110: 275-277.

Okil, A.M., Haggag, S.M. and Tadros, A.W. 2000. Population dynamics of Phyllognathus excavatus Forster (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in date palm orchards in Egypt. Annals of Agricultural Science, Moshtohor 38:1307-1318.

Talhouk, A.M. 2002. Insects and Mites injurious to Crops in Middle Eastern Countries. 2nd Edition. American University of Beirut Press, pp 269.

Website

https://www.google.co.il/search?q=Phyllognathus+excavatus&tbm=isch&source=hp&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjj9Kvn7KbhAhWNaVAKHXknBwUQsAR6BAgJEAE&biw=1280&bih=644 http://www.maltawildplants.com/!faunafungi/maltawildlife.php?species=Phyllognathus%20excavatus

Reserved refs

Alali, S. 2015. Ecological and biological studies of dome species of Scarabaeidae and life cycle of Phyllognathus excavatus in Damascus countryside. Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences

The life cycle of Ph. excavatus lasted for two years. Adults flight was recorded from April to early August with a peak in May. This species overwinters as third instar larvae in the first year and as adults in the pupal cell in the second year. Adults lay their eggs in the dung piles.