Giant/Ugandan Flower Beetle Mecynorhina (torquata) ugandensis

Giant Ugandan Flower Beetle
Ugandan Giant Flower Beetle
Ugandan Flower Beetle
Giant Flower Beetle Mecynorhina ugandensis, also called the Ugandan Flower Beetle, is native to forests of Uganda and part of D. R. Congo. It was previously considered (and is still sometimes classified as) a subspecies of Mecynorhina torquata. Both species, growing to up to 8 cm, occur in many different colours, including blue, green and red, and different patterns.
Ugandan Giant Flower Beetle
Giant Flower Beetle
Giant Ugandan Flower Beetle
The adult male has an unbranched frontal horn used for fighting rival males. Females have a shovel-shaped head to burrow into soil. The spiky front limbs are also for burrowing.
Ugandan Giant Flower Beetles with mushroom "I've got a mushroom."
Giant Flower Beetles fighting "Not anymore you haven't"
Giant Ugandan Flower Beetles male "and get off my territory."
Ugandan Giant Flower Beetle
Blue Giant Flower Beetle
Blue Giant Ugandan Flower Beetle with mushroom
Lifespan is a year. Diet is mainly soft fruit for adults and rotting leaves for larvae.
Ugandan Giant Flower Beetle
Ugandan Giant Flower Beetle
Ugandan Giant Flower and Yellow-bellied Sun Beetles
A green variant is also common, shown above right with the much smaller (but still large) Yellow-bellied Sun Beetle.