As with other rhino beetle species, the female Dynastes hercules does not possess any horns. The male adults of this species feature long horns, which can occasionally equal or even surpass their body length. Also known as the longest beetle species in the world, its largest recorded size is 181mm. These grubs eat rotten wood and live in the ground for up to a year before transforming into pupae.Ī few weeks later, the pupae transform into adults, which live underground until spring.Įastern Hercules beetles take up to three years to complete their life cycle.This item will provide you with 1x Dynastes hercules hercules larva.ĭynastes hercules is native to Central and South America. Females lay eggs in the soil, the first step in a life history characterized by complete metamorphosis.Ībout a month later, the eggs hatch into larvae. The reward is the right to mate with a nearby female. The stronger individual, usually the one with the longer horns, lifts and tosses his opponent aside, or the smaller male simply concedes and moves on to avoid injury. Males use their horns in territorial jousts. At night they feed on decaying plant matter and sap. Even both layered, feathery antennae were flawless.īy day, Hercules beetles stay hidden in leaf litter or rotting wood, so they are seldom seen. The tips of each leg retained two perfect claws. The large horns on this individual’s head indicated it was a male. They can use their horns to move objects more than 100 times their own body weight, hence their common name. BehaviorĪ quick search for more information revealed that eastern Hercules beetles, a species of rhinoceros beetles, are common throughout the eastern deciduous forest. The forward pair forms a hard, protective cover over the second more fragile membranous pair of wings that enable flight.Īnd like many insects, Hercules beetles are attracted to and disoriented by lights at night. Like most insects, beetles have two pairs of wings and are capable flyers. I suspect it had flown to a nearby street light the previous night. Though dead, the beetle Linda had found was in pristine condition. Tropical species of rhinoceros beetles can grow to be six inches long and are among the world’s largest insects. Years ago, while building an insect collection for a college entomology class, such a specimen would have earned me a higher grade. I recognized it immediately as a type of rhinoceros beetle. Linda opened her hand to reveal a large beetle that was more than 2 1/2 inches long. “I’m not sure what it is,” she said, “but you’re going to love it.” Rhinoceros beetleĪ few days ago, my wife burst into the apartment and told me I’d never believe what she found in the parking lot less than 75 feet from our front door. So, when I stumble upon something scary in the backyard, I’m all in. Likewise, horseshoe crabs at the beach are totally harmless. Spiders and snakes strike fear in the hearts of many, though most are harmless.Ĭicadas look like bloodsucking demons, but they sip plant juices with their piercing straw-like mouthparts. I’ve never seen any of these in the wild, so I treasure memories of my few wild encounters with large predators - brown bears and orcas in Alaska, a wolf in Glacier National Park, a mountain lion in Mexico, big alligators in Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp and a crocodile in the Everglades.Īnimals need not be large to intimidate. Of course, dinosaurs disappeared millions of years ago, so now living monsters such as great white sharks, pythons and tigers fascinate me. The scenes of herds of dinosaurs stampeding across vast fields were just as I’d imagined. When Jurassic Park opened in 1993, I was giddy with excitement as I bought my ticket on opening day. And for me, those feelings persisted into adulthood.

The size, ferocity and fear of real dinosaurs appealed to us. Names like Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus and Plesiosaurus. We collected and played with hard plastic toy models with long, hard-to-pronounce and spell names imprinted on them. I did more than 55 years ago, and so did many of my friends.

Hercules rhinoceros beetle for sale