Beneath this lush greenery lives an extremely rare insect - the Cheirotonus jansoni beetle, a Class II protected species in China called the ‘Giant Panda of the Insect World’. 

A Cheirotonus jansoni beetle. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

The beetle is also regarded as an ‘indicator species’. Extremely sensitive to environmental species, the presence of this insect is an indication of a healthy ecosystem. This scarab beetle’s forewings shine like nature’s jewels. Metallic copper-green and golden-orange hues glint in the sun, making it look like the insect is wearing armor made of precious metal.

A Cheirotonus jansoni beetle. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

This ‘Golden Warrior’ has extremely high standards - it refuses to live anywhere but in tropical and subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests or mixed evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forests. Most of the time, the scarab beetle makes its home in the hollows of large oak trees. Adult beetles prefer open woodland spaces with a bit of wind to lift their wings. They feed on sweet tree sap. The larvae nestle in large pieces of rotten wood, munching on decaying plant matter as they slowly grow larger. It takes two or more years for these insects to reach maturity. 

A Cheirotonus jansoni beetle. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

Cheirotonus jansoni beetles. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

The most distinctive features of the male beetles are their giant forelimbs, which are nearly as long as their bodies. These aren’t just for show. They are powerful weapons in the fight for mates and territory. 

Cheirotonus jansoni beetles mate. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

“No invasions can be tolerated!” When two males meet in the rainforest, negotiations often fail, and a life-or-death struggle ensues. This isn’t a friendly sparring match. It’s an ultimate battle for mating rights and resources needed for survival. Although the fights are brief, they are fierce. The loser must retreat, hiding away from the victor in the dense jungle foliage. 

A smaller female Cheirotonus jansoni beetle approaches from the left, while a larger male approaches from the right. Photo courtesy of Discovering Mysteries Season 5 crew

The golden scarab beetles are just a small part of a vast army of insects marching through the rainforest. There are thousands upon thousands, each with a different duty to perform. Some are scavengers, clearing away decomposing plant matter. Some act as pollinators, vital to continuing the life cycle of different plants. Together, the insect army weaves a safety net that protects the health of the ecosystem. Boasting the highest biodiversity of all life’s many creatures, large numbers of insect species live in Hainan’s tropical rainforest, with over 1,700 species discovered here so far.