Biology
Female Anthracocentrus arabicus being held to indicate relative size © Conrad P D T Gillett
The lifestyle of the beetles remains incompletely known despite their large size.
This species is strictly nocturnal. It becomes active after nightfall, when it climbs tree trunks and roams the ground near host trees searching out mates. The beetle has fully developed wings and probably, at times, uses flight for dispersal.
During the day the beetles hide under bark, stones and other objects, affording them cover from the light and heat of the sun.
It is likely that the mated female beetles lay their eggs into the living roots of trees deep underground, especially ghaf trees in the United Arab Emirates, which the larvae feed on during their development over several years.
The beetles begin to emerge from the sandy ground through burrows during late September, after the hottest part of the year has passed, and continue to emerge until early November (Rejzek et al 2005).