Hercules beetle
| Hercules Beetle | ||||||||||||||
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| Missing image Dynastes-hercules-hercules.JPG Dynastes hercules | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Dynastes hercules Linnaeus, 1758 |
The hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) is by far the most famous of the rhinoceros beetles. Native to the rain forests of Central and South America, their title is well deserved, with some males reaching 6.75 inches (170mm) in length. This scarab is most noted for its thoracic and cephalic horns, which many times will grow longer than the body of the beetle itself. This adaptation is primarily used during brawls with other males. It is not only the largest of the 6 species in the Dynastes genus, but also the largest of the entire beetle order.Look closely and you will notice many thick hairs on the underside of the thoracic horn. Another common feature of this species is the small black spots which develop on the shell.
Hercules beetles are highly sexually dimorphic, with the female generally being much smaller and without any horn whatsoever. The larval stage of the hercules beetle will last two to three years, with the larva growing up to 4 1/2 inches in length and weighing up to 120 grams. Much of the life of the larva is spent tunneling through rotting wood, its primary food source. After the larval period, transformation into a pupae and then moulting will occur, the beetle then emerging as an adult. Adults will roam the forest floor in search of decaying fruit.
External links
- http://www.naturalworlds.org/scarabaeidae/species/Dynastes_hercules.htm
- http://entweb.clemson.edu/museum/beetles/exotic/btle26.htm