Goliath Beetles

giant insects · Africa · beetles

Truly enormous beetles. Goliath beetles can grow 6 to 11 centimeters long (about the size of your hand) and weigh up to 80 to 100 grams when they are larvae. Even as adults, they are still super heavy insects, making them some of the biggest and heaviest bugs in the world.

Live in African forests. These amazing beetles make their homes in Africa's tropical forests, where they munch on tree sap and fruit. Scientists don't know much about how they grow in the wild, but in zoos and labs, people have successfully raised them using protein-rich food like cat and dog food.

Colorful and striking. Male Goliath beetles have bold patterns mixing brown, white, and black, while females are usually dark chestnut brown or silky white. This makes them really easy to spot when they crawl around the forest.

Facing big threats. Goliath beetles are losing their forest homes to habitat destruction, and too many are being caught and sold as pets around the world. Climate change is also starting to affect their survival across Africa.