Imperial-sand-dunes

Guides

• Megasoma sleeperi

  Sleeper's Elephant Beetle

  Megasoma sleeperi is a species of rhinoceros beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is endemic to the Algodones Dunes of southeastern California and adjacent areas of southwestern Arizona and northwestern Mexico. Like other members of the genus Megasoma, it is among the largest beetles in North America. Males possess prominent horns used in combat with other males. The species was described by Hardy in 1972 and is named in honor of collector R. C. Sleeper.

  endemicsand-dune-specialistrhinoceros-beetledynastinaescarabaeidaecoleopteraalgodones-dunesimperial-sand-dunescaliforniaarizonanearcticdeserthorned-beetlelarge-beetle