Goliathus goliatus is one of the largest species in the genus
Goliathus and one of the largest insects in general, males having a body length of and females having a body length of . The
pronotum (thoracic shield) is mainly black, with whitish longitudinal stripes, while the
elytra are mostly dark brown in the typical form. The color of the elytra may differ greatly in some other forms, with varying amounts and patterns of brown, white and black. The elytra are mostly white in the "quadrimaculatus" form, which (along with various intermediate forms that have been named "albatus", "apicalis", "conspersus", "hieroglyphicus" and "undulatus") occur together with the more common brown typical form in
Benin, eastern
Nigeria and western
Cameroon. This species possess a large and membranous secondary pair of wings actually used for flying. When not in use, they are kept completely folded beneath the elytra. The head is whitish, with a black Y-shaped horn in males, used as a pry bar in battles with other males over feeding sites or mates. These beetles feed primarily on tree sap and fruits. File:Scarabaeidae - Goliathus goliatus.JPG|
Goliathus goliatus male, at the
Montreal Insectarium File:Goliathus goliatus dos.jpg|
Goliathus goliatus male, dorsal side File:Goliathus goliatus ventre.jpg|
Goliathus goliatus male, ventral side File:2013-03-09 Goliathkäfer Goliathus goliatus anagoria.jpg|
Goliathus goliatus, male, with spread wings File:Dalian Liaoning China Goliathus-goliatus-01.jpg|
Goliathus goliatus form "apicalis" File:Goliathus.conspersus.jpg|
Goliathus goliatus form "conspersus" File:Goliathus goliatus quadrimaculatus.jpg|
Goliathus goliatus form "quadrimaculatus" == Distribution ==