A true heavyweight A male African goliath beetle (Goliathus goliatus). The beetles are among the largest and heaviest insects on Earth. (more) African goliath beetle insect Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/animal/African-goliath-beetle Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Goliathus giganteus, Goliathus goliatus Written by Karen Sottosanti Karen Sottosanti is a writer and editor who works in educational publishing. Karen Sottosanti Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 14, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How much do African goliath beetles weigh? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Adult African goliath beetles have stout, oval-shaped bodies and generally weigh about 40u201360 grams (1.4u20132.1 ounces). They have a length of up to 100u2013110 mm (3.9u20134.3 inches). Notably, they are nearly twice as heavy in their larval stage. The underground grubs weigh 80u2013100 grams (2.8u20133.5 ounces) and can have a body length of 114u2013150 mm (4.5u20135.9 inches). They are one of the heaviest insects on Earth." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What do African goliath beetles eat? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "African goliath beetles are omnivores. Adults primarily consume sap and fruit. The subterranean larvae feed on decaying plant matter, dung, and decomposing animals. Given that they require a diet rich in protein to reach their large size, they may also be predators of other speciesu2019 larvae and perhaps even cannibalistic." } } ] } Top Questions How much do African goliath beetles weigh? Adult African goliath beetles have stout, oval-shaped bodies and generally weigh about 40–60 grams (1.4–2.1 ounces). They have a length of up to 100–110 mm (3.9–4.3 inches). Notably, they are nearly twice as heavy in their larval stage. The underground grubs weigh 80–100 grams (2.8–3.5 ounces) and can have a body length of 114–150 mm (4.5–5.9 inches). They are one of the heaviest insects on Earth.

　　What do African goliath beetles eat? African goliath beetles are omnivores. Adults primarily consume sap and fruit. The subterranean larvae feed on decaying plant matter, dung, and decomposing animals. Given that they require a diet rich in protein to reach their large size, they may also be predators of other species’ larvae and perhaps even cannibalistic.

　　African goliath beetle, (Goliathus goliatus), species of large and strikingly colored scarab beetle, the larva of which is one of the heaviest insects in the world. The animal is native to the tropical and subtropical rainforests and savannas of equatorial Central and West Africa. Although smaller than its substantial larval form, the adult African goliath beetle remains among the largest of insects, ranking closely with the hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules), the titan beetle (Titanus giganteus), and the cricket-like giant wētā (Deinacrida). Taxonomy See also list of beetles. The adult African goliath beetle has a stout, oval-shaped body, which, like that ...(100 of 658 words)

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