In the wild, you can meet various interesting creatures. One of them is a bizarre rhinoceros beetle belonging to the lamellar family, subfamily of hollows. There are many subspecies of this insect in nature. This name was given because their larvae can be found in old hollows. However, their vital activity takes place in rotten wood, in rotting remains of vegetation, in soil with humus, in rotted manure. These are all places where the rhinoceros lives. Beetles that have grown up live openly.
Distribution
Where does the rhinoceros live, in what zone? The species is distributed throughout the European part of Russia. It can be seen in the Crimea and in the south of Siberia. Such a beetle is not uncommon in the central part of the state.
The result is the distribution area where the rhinoceros lives - the mainland of Eurasia.
Appearance
The male has an unusual appearance, he really looks like a true rhinoceros. He has a large protrusion on his head - it is a sharp horn, bent back. It has angled edges. It can be assumed that for other small insects he is a real rhinoceros. There are times when this insect can reach large sizes up to four centimeters, but this is not their limit.growth.
The unusual appearance of the beetle attracted the human eye to it in ancient times. Therefore, he is well known everywhere. Not many animals are used in folklore. But the rhinoceros beetle is so honored, so we can say that this is another place where the rhinoceros lives.
The color of the beetles is dark brown or chestnut-brown, maybe up to red-brown. Females have a more modest appearance. On the pronotum they have only a barely noticeable tubercle. The back is smooth, but the abdomen and legs are covered with red hairs. The larvae of these insects are large. The development of beetles occurs at a very slow pace, they can be up to 4 years old in their own food substrate.
The body of insects is massive, oblong, convex, with strong legs. The rear beetle rests, and the front digs. In females, the body is slightly wider. The limbs and abdomen are slightly lighter.
Features of life activity
In the middle of summer, these beetles can often be seen on the dunghills, these are the places where the rhinoceros lives. If you dig a bunch, then with almost one hundred percent probability there will be larvae in the depths. Adults fly in the evenings. They do not need to feed, they exist due to the accumulated substances during larval maturation. For insects of this species, the main purpose is to find a partner and leave offspring.
Nature role
Overmature manure is a favorite place for the rhinoceros beetle. It is with this product that the beetles enter greenhouses and greenhouses, in which the owners are often surprised to find them. In the southern zone theyfall into the greenhouses where they grow chubuk. Grape seedlings suffer greatly from these insects, because they eat young roots from them. In addition, rhinos can harm the roots of lemons, roses and other plants.
In the old days, when oak bark was used as a tanning agent in production, rhinos lived comfortably in their stocks, spoiling them.
Insect development
Rhino is a heterosexual insect. When fertilization is completed, the female lays her eggs in old stumps, in manure, tree trunks, and then dies. Leaving offspring, she ends the life cycle. The larvae hatch after thirty days and remain in the nest for three years. As food they have substances of organic decay. The size of the larvae is quite large - up to nine cm in length, C-shaped, covered with hairs.
After accumulating a good supply of nutrients, the larva becomes a chrysalis, having undergone three molts before. In this stage, the insect can be from twelve to thirty days. At first it is light brown in color, and then the shade becomes darker. In the spring, a rhinoceros beetle emerges from the chrysalis. The ground is where the rhinoceros lives, only coming to the surface at night.
The beetle has enemies. They feed on gamasid mites and birds.
The rhinoceros beetle is not as common as, for example, the May beetle. But getting into the field of view, immediately attracts attention to itself. After all, his appearance is really unusual and original. A small wonder of nature. Despite their formidable appearance, they have a peaceful disposition. They do not bite or harm others.
