Elephant Beetle vs Flat-horned Hissing Cockroach
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Elephant Beetle | Flat-horned Hissing Cockroach |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megasoma elephas | Aeluropoda insignis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Blaberidae |
| Size | 70-120 mm | 45-65 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Detritivores |
| Regions | Central America, South America | Madagascar |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Elephant Beetle
One of the heaviest beetles, weighing up to 50 grams. Males have prominent horns on the head and prothorax. Larvae take 2-3 years to develop in rotting wood.
Did You Know?
Elephant beetle larvae are so large they were reportedly eaten by indigenous peoples in Central America — each larva can weigh as much as a small chicken egg.
Flat-horned Hissing Cockroach
A Madagascan cockroach with broad, flattened horns on the pronotum. It lives under bark and in rotting wood on the forest floor.
Did You Know?
Its flattened body allows it to squeeze into tight crevices under tree bark.