Japanese armour and minibeasts - section A
Hercules Beetle (Dynastes neptunus), native and rather common in the rain forests of north-western regions of South America. See here for more information.
Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), a common beetle of south-eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania. Its iridescent body colour varies from green, red, blue to purple. It is a relatively easy to breed species. Read more here and here.
Giant Africa Fruit Beetle (Chelorrhina polyphemus), male on the left (with a horn), female on the left. It is native to tropical African forests. Adults feed on tree sap, larvae on decaying plant material. This beetle is easily bred in captivity. Read more here.
This print of a tree peony flower (Paeonia x suffruticosa) comes from the 1835 volume of Sydenham Edwards’ horticultural magazine ‘The Botanical Register’; read more here.
In Japan, the peony can be a symbol of good fortune and wealth, as well as for bravery and honour; read more here.
Stag Beetle (Dorcus curvidens), male on the left, female on the right; native to South-East Asia. Some say that it is the longest living stag beetle, as some specimen can live up to two years in captivity. The beetle is easily bred; read more about this here.
Brown Rhinoceros Beetle (Xylotrupes gideon), male on the top and left, female on the right; widespread in Indonesia. The larvae develop in decaying plant materials and take about two years to develop. The adults feed on foliage. Read more here.
Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle (Allomyrina dichotomus), male on the left and female on the right. This species occurs in broad-leaved forests in tropical and subtropical mountainous habitats of Japan, Korean and eastern China. The beetle is easily bred in captivity. Read more here.
Chief Goliath Beetle (Goliathus cacicus), native to western equatorial Africa. The species seems to be declining or even became extinct in the wild; the last field observation of this beetle dates back to 2012.
An articulated and enlarged bronze figure of the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle (Allomyrina dichotomus). Japan, 19th century. Look out for real beetles in this display case (no. 7).
Manchester Museum, 0.9151/1095
Atlas Beetle (Chalcosoma atlas), found in South-East Asia. Males are much larger than females and have three prominent horns. Read more here.
Anubis Elephant Beetle (Megasoma anubis), native to southern Brazil. It is a pest Brazil, feeding on the inflorescence of the Chinese fan palm (Livistona chinensis).