Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Giant Fijian long-horned beetle (Xixuthrus heros), recorded as Endangered
Giant Fijian long-horned beetle (Xixuthrus heros). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Giant Fijian long-horned beetle

Xixuthrus heros

The giant Fijian long-horned beetle is native to the islands of Viti Levu in Fiji, and is one of the largest living insect species, with specimens around 15 cm long, excluding legs, antennae, or jaws.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Xixuthrus heros
Taxonomy
Insecta · Coleoptera · Cerambycidae · Xixuthrus

Range and habitat

The rainforest habitat on its home island has suffered severe fragmentation by deforestation and habitat degradation by invasive species such as the small Indian mongoose, with other threats being cyclones that could devastate its remaining habitat, light pollution and human consumption of its larvae. Giant Fijian long-horned beetle is distributed in the lowland rainforests of south-east Viti Levu, with Colo-i-Suva Forest Reserve being the stronghold. Natives in some nearby villages continue to consume the larvae when they split decaying wood, that is then burnt for fuel, placing additional pressures on the population.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Habits

Both male and female X. Heros are primarily nocturnal and embark on long-distance flights in their quest for mates and suitable host trees.

In crisis

Consequently, the beetle is regarded as rare and endangered. This habitat is under threat from activities like logging, land clearance for agriculture, and vulnerability to cyclone damage.

Giant Fijian long-horned beetle is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Giant Fijian long-horned beetle, Wikidata item Q1526437. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

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Quick answers

What is Giant Fijian long-horned beetle?
The giant Fijian long-horned beetle is native to the islands of Viti Levu in Fiji, and is one of the largest living insect species, with specimens around 15 cm long, excluding legs, antennae, or jaws.
What is the conservation status of Giant Fijian long-horned beetle?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Xixuthrus heros. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Giant Fijian long-horned beetle live?
The rainforest habitat on its home island has suffered severe fragmentation by deforestation and habitat degradation by invasive species such as the small Indian mongoose, with other threats being cyclones that could devastate its remaining habitat, light pollution and human consumption of its larvae.
Why is Giant Fijian long-horned beetle in crisis?
The rainforest habitat on its home island has suffered severe fragmentation by deforestation and habitat degradation by invasive species such as the small Indian mongoose, with other threats being cyclones that could devastate its remaining habitat, light pollution and human consumption of its larvae.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Xixuthrus heros?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Giant Fijian long-horned beetle a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.