Xylotrupes socrates, the Siamese rhinoceros beetle or fighting beetle, is a species of large
scarab beetle belonging to the subfamily
Dynastinae. It is particularly known for its role in
insect fighting in Thailand, where they are captured and trained by their owners to become stronger and more aggressive, with the beetle that lifts its opponent up by its horns winning. An insect may also win if its opponent crawls away, falls or is overturned. This photograph of a male
X. socrates beetle on a banana leaf was
focus-stacked from 23 images.
Photograph credit: Basile Morin