Genus Phileurus

Name somewhat obscure. The author of the genus is Latreille, 1807. Clearly from phil- Greek, lover plus either:

1--eurus Greek, wide, extensive, as in aneurysm, a widening of an artery. So this is "the wide lover"? Perhaps this refers to the wide, rather heart-shaped pronotum.

2-Eurus (Εμροσ) was a minor Greek god personifying the east, or southeast wind, or the wind itself (1). This wind brought warmth and rain to Greece. There is an Internet reference to the symbol of Eurus being an inverted vase. Perhaps the pronotum has a shape like that? "Lover of the east wind" makes more sense to me than "lover, wide" based on the construction of the word. Since Eurus brought warmth and moisture, perhaps the name really means "lover of warm, moist places". That would make sense, given the tropical affinities of the genus, and its reported fondness for rotting logs. More support for (2): Eurus was the daughter of Eos (dawn) and Astraeus (god of the four winds). Astraeus is a genus of buprestid beetle. Entomologists like themes in names! (Based on Internet searches.)

Nearctica.com lists three species for North America: P. truncatus, valgus, and vitulus.

P. valgus (adult? larva?) reported under the bark of decomposing trees. P truncatus reported, in particular, under the bark of dead oaks. (2)

Both sexes come to lights. Reported to have structures for sound production (stridulation). (2)

Rhinoceros Beetle, Xyloryctes jamaciensis, is somewhat similar.

The Century Dictionary--entry for Euroclydon (1)

Taber, pp. 147-148, describes life history briefly, photograph, fig. 127--P. truncatus (2)

Harpootlian, p. 115, figs 229, 279 (3)

Deyrup, p. 96 has a photo of P. truncatus, though it is not identified as such. (4)

Brimley, p. 207, lists P. truncatus and P. floridanus (=valgus) for North Carolina. (5)

Biologia Centrali-Americana has illustrations of three neotropical species: cylindroides, dejeani and laevicauda.

Beetle Experience page on P. valgus.

Clemson Univ.--illustration of P. truncatus

North Carolina State University Entomology Collection lists for that state: P. castaneus (=valgus, 7 pinned), P. truncatus (50 pinned).

Beetles of Florida lists P. truncatus and P. valgus.

Checklist of Beetles at Great Smoky Mountains National Park lists P. truncatus and P. valgus.