The numbers
Enclosure
Not advised to culture (palm pest); if reared for food, deep compost bin, contained
Diet
Adults bore palm tissue/sap; larvae eat rotting palm/compost · N/A
Temperature
26-32C
Humidity
60-85%
Identity
Order / Family
Coleoptera
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated; recognised agricultural PEST
Difficulty
Not recommended
Commonality
Very common wild; larvae eaten locally (not a hobby pet)
Adult size
Body 30-60mm; single curved head horn, black
Lifespan
Larva ~4-9 mo; adult ~3-6 mo
Growth rate
Moderate
Activity & niche
Nocturnal; adults bore into palm crowns; larvae in rotting palm/compost
Temperament
Docile; harmless to people
Venom / defense
Harmless - no venom/sting; hisses
Price (THB)
Not a pet; larvae sold as food (หนอนด้วงมะพร้าว)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
26-32C
Humidity
60-85%
Min. enclosure
Not advised to culture (palm pest); if reared for food, deep compost bin, contained
Substrate
Rotting palm/compost/manure for larvae
Hides / decor / water
N/A - discouraged as pet
Diet
Staple food
Adults bore palm tissue/sap; larvae eat rotting palm/compost
Feeding frequency
N/A
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Harmless to handle but do not culture
Communal
N/A
Defense / stress signs
Hissing, leg-kicking
Reproduction
Reproduction
Eggs in rotting palm/compost -> L1-L3 -> pupa -> adult
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsN/A (pest)
Red flags / quarantine
SignsREGULATED PEST - do not spread/release; report if in stock; damages coconut/oil palm
Good to know
- Included as an honest warning: a major palm pest whose fat grubs are a popular fried snack in Thailand
Others in this group
Japanese rhinoceros beetleTrypoxylus dichotomus (formerly Allomyrina)Atlas beetleChalcosoma atlasSiamese rhinoceros / fighting beetleXylotrupes gideon (TH pops. often X. socrates)Giant stag beetleDorcus titanus (syn. Serrognathus titanus)Sun beetle (fruit beetle)Pachnoda marginata (peregrina)Hercules beetleDynastes herculesGiant flower beetleMecynorhina torquataGiraffe stag beetleProsopocoilus giraffa