Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle

Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle

Trypoxylus dichotomus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Nagoya

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

26 Verified sightings at Nagoya
10 In 1 park From 2019 to 2026
August Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle

The Japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus), also known as the Japanese rhino beetle, the Japanese horned beetle, or by its Japanese name kabutomushi (兜虫, 甲虫 or カブトムシ), is a species of rhinoceros beetle. They are commonly found in continental Asia in countries such as China, the Korean peninsula, Japan, Vietnam, Burma, Thailand, and Taiwan. In these areas, this species of beetle is often found in broad-leaved forests with tropical or sub-tropical climates. This beetle is well known for the prominent cephalic horn found on males. Male Japanese rhinoceros beetles will use this horn to fight other males for territory and access to female mating partners. Upon contact, males will attempt to flip each other onto their backs or off of their feeding tree. In response to selective pressures, smaller male T. dichotomus have adapted a "sneak-like behavior". These smaller beetles will attempt to avoid physical confrontation with larger males and try to mate with females.

Trypoxylus dichotomus corniculatus Trypoxylus dichotomus dichotomus: Mainland China, the Korean Peninsula Trypoxylus dichotomus septentrionalis: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Tsushima Island Trypoxylus... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Taroko National Park 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~10%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Hefei 🇨🇳 China
~30%
2 Nagoya 🇯🇵 Japan
~20%
3 Taipei 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~20%
4 Nanjing 🇨🇳 China
~20%
5 Taichung 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~20%
6 Wuhan 🇨🇳 China
~20%
7 Hangzhou 🇨🇳 China
~10%
8 Osaka 🇯🇵 Japan
~10%
9 Daejeon 🇰🇷 South Korea
~10%
10 Tokyo 🇯🇵 Japan
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle in Nagoya?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle sighting in Nagoya on a given day, based on 26 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 35th most-seen of the 195 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle in Nagoya?

August

In that month about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle in Nagoya on a given day, against under 5% in October to June, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle?

Between 8 and 11 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.

Is Nagoya the best place to see a Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle?

2nd of 14

Of the 14 cities where we can rate Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle sightings, Nagoya ranks 2nd at about 20%. The best odds are in Hefei (China, about 30%).

Which relatives of the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle live in Nagoya?

Same family: Scarabaeidae

The closest relatives of the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle that you can see in Nagoya (family Scarabaeidae, Scarabs) are Green Chafer (about 30%), Oriental Beetle (about 20%) and Japanese Beetle (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Nagoya (26 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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