Hercules beetles have undeniable strength.
- Hercules beetles are rainforest and jungle insects that are found in South and Central America.
- The scientific name of a Hercules beetle is Dynastes hercules, and it is from the family Scarabaeidae, the family of scarabs.
- Hercules beetles can grow to be 4 to 18 centimetres (1.6 to 7 inches) in length, placing them among the top three largest beetles.
- Male Hercules beetles always have horns, or large pincers, which females lack, although the latter generally have a larger body.
- The outer shell of a Hercules beetle is generally a combination of brown or black, and yellow or green, and it can change colour, depending on the humidity.
Hercules Beetle
Image courtesy of Mr Bluff/Flickr
- The diet of a Hercules beetle typically consists of decomposing fruit, wood, leaves or other vegetation, and sometimes little insects.
- Hercules beetles are among the strongest animals in relation to body weight, with the ability to carry their own weight multiplied by 80.
- Hercules beetles hatch from eggs laid by the females, and the larvae spend a year or two burrowing through wood, which they eat, until the young become adults through a pupa, then moulting stage.
- Male Hercules beetles sometimes battle each other with their pincers, and the pincers can be longer than the main part of their body.
- Hercules beetles can live up to twelve months as an adult, making a total lifespan of close to three years.
Bibliography:
Hercules Beetle, 2008, University of Kentucky Etymology, http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/beetles/hercules/hercules.htm
Hercules Beetle, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/hercules-beetle/
Hercules Beetle, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_beetle
