Strategus Kirby, 1828

Ratcliffe, Brett C. & Cave, Ronald D., 2010, The Dynastinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of the Cayman Islands (West Indies), with descriptions of Tomarus adoceteus, new species (Pentodontini) and Caymania nitidissima, new genus and species (Phileurini), Insecta Mundi 2010 (139), pp. 1-15 : 9

Strategus Kirby, 1828

The genus Strategus contains 33 extant species ( Ratcliffe 1976; Delgado 1997; Morón and Nogueira 2008). Fourteen species are indigenous to the West Indies, five species occur in the United States, 11 species in Mexico, five species in Central America, and nine species are found in South America extending as far as central Argentina.

Strategus species are distinguished from species in other genera in the tribe Oryctini by the following combination of characters: mandibles exposed with apex bidentate and with a prominent basal lobe; head lacking horns; pronotum usually foveate and at least tuberculate subapically and with horns or prominent bosses in males; protibia quadridentate; and apex of metatibia with three teeth. Ratcliffe (1976) provided a revision of the genus.

Life history information for most Strategus species is lacking. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights. A few species have, historically, been minor pests of coconut and oil palms, especially in areas of new cultivation that had recently replaced natural forest habitat. The larvae live in the wood of rotting trees and in concentrations of rich organic debris in the soil.