Prosopocoilus torresensisLife Cycle of Prosopocoilus torresensis

The species Prosopocoilus torresensis, genus Prosopocoilus, is a group of beetles in the family Lucanidae.

Prosopocoilus torresensis have distinctive orange bands on both sides of the pronotum and elytra. Current observations have found them in northern Queensland (from Mackay up the north coast) and the Top End of the Northern Territory (Darwin region and Tiwi Islands).

Prosopocoilus torresensis, QLD © Hongming Kan
Male and female Prosopocoilus torresensis, QLD © Hongming Kan

The larvae are found in rotting timber in rainforest regions. The adults are nocturnal and can sometimes be seen feeding on sap flows and fallen and rotting fruit.

Prosopocoilus torresensis, QLD © Hongming Kan
Prosopocoilus torresensis confronting another beetle species, QLD © Hongming Kan
Prosopocoilus torresensis, QLD © Hongming Kan
Prosopocoilus torresensis male, QLD © Hongming Kan
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
  • Family: Lucanidae
  • Subfamily:
    • Aesalinae Macleay, 1819
    • Lampriminae W.S. MacLeay, 1819
    • Lucaninae Latreille, 1804
    • Syndesinae Macleay, 1819
  • Subfamily: Lucaninae
  • Tribe: Lucanini
  • Genus: Prosopocoilus
  • Species: Prosopocoilus torresensis

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs Prosopocoilus torresensis © Hongming Kan
  2. Prosopocoilus torresensis (Deyrolle, 1870), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/c07d43f6-27e2-4e57-b150-0cffe96fa23d
  3. Prosopocoilus torresensis, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/487397-Prosopocoilus-torresensis

Prosopocoilus torresensisLife Cycle of Prosopocoilus torresensis

LucanidaeLamprima aurata Prosopocoilus torresensis

ColeopteraAmarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Buprestidae Cerambycidae Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Digitonthophagus gazella Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Johannica gemellata (Pandorea Leaf Beetle) Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Neospades sp Lycidae Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Pittosporum Leaf Beetle (Lamprolina impressicollis) Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera (True Bugs) Mango Planthopper Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Syrphidae Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub