There are about 400 species of beetles on our planet. Big and small, beautiful and not so, unique and ordinary. The family of beetles (or Coleoptera) is one of the most interesting to study. Today we will discuss such a representative of the Coleoptera family as the Hercules beetle. What is it?
Beetle named Hercules
The Hercules beetle belongs to the lamellar mustache family and holds the title of the largest representative of this group.
He is a type of rhinoceros beetle. The insect got its name in honor of the ancient Greek hero Hercules. The ancient demigod possessed remarkable strength and endurance. The Hercules beetle is also very strong. He lifts 850 times his own weight! Many scientists call it the most powerful insect on Earth. A human would need to lift 65 tons to match the strength of the Hercules beetle.
Recently, fights between a beetle and various arthropods have become popular. In a duel with a scorpion or a lobster, Hercules usually comes out victorious thanks to the horns, which inin a fight, he uses to capture the enemy.
In addition, the Hercules beetle is one of the largest among insects. In size, it is second only to the titan lumberjack, which was entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world. However, despite the size and amazing strength of Hercules, the giant lives only six months. Therefore, the female should have time to lay as many eggs as possible in a short period.
Hercules mates during the rainy season. Often, there are several males per female, which are especially aggressive during this period. The male who wins the fight for possession of the female mates with her.
Interesting fact! The larva of the beetle grows up to 19 cm in a few months. Its weight reaches 100 grams. Therefore, among the American natives, it is considered a delicacy.
Appearance of Hercules
Let's take a closer look at the description of the Hercules beetle. Its dimensions are impressive. Its weight can reach 111 grams. This is the largest indicator among insects. Even the goliath beetle rarely weighs more than 100 grams. The body length of the male is from 15 to 22 cm. The females are much smaller. Their length is about 8 cm.
You can also distinguish males from females due to the presence of large horns in the former. Horns on the head, pointing forward, with several notches, are a distinctive feature of the representatives of the genus Dynastes. The upper horn is rounded. At its tip, a thick layer of reddish hairs is visible. Females do not have horns.
Most of the beetle's body is covered with hard elytra. They change color depending on their habitat. For a long time, the change in the color of beetles was the subject of interest of scientists. During the study of this phenomenon, it was possible to identify enzymes that change the color of the elytra depending on the level of environmental humidity. This allows the beetles to quickly adapt to climate change. Therefore, the insect can be used as an indicator of the level of environmental humidity. Its color can be yellow, olive, olive-brown, dark yellow with black spots. His entire body is covered with short, hard hairs.
Females have a black, matte color. Their entire body is covered with tubercles and red hairs.
Where does the Hercules beetle live?
Insect prefers tropical and subtropical climates. It can be found in the forests of South and Central America. Today, these giants live in large numbers in Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Mexico, Panama, and the Caribbean. During the wet season, beetles are ubiquitous. The Hercules beetle also lives in Peru, Ecuador and other places with an abundance of tropical forests.
In addition, in some specialized stores, the beetle can be bought. The Hercules beetle, despite its intimidating appearance, is absolutely safe for humans and does not react to it in any way when they meet it. Therefore, many people buy a tropical pet. Since an adult costs about $ 300, the larva of the Hercules beetle is often purchased. However, in this case, it needs certain conditions for growth and development.
What does it eat?
What does the beetle eat-Hercules? The main diet of this giant insect is rotten fruit that has fallen to the ground. The beetle can eat the same fruit for a long time until it sucks all the nutrients out of it. If necessary, he can also climb a tree in search of food with the help of powerful paws. Uses hercules and wings to fly from one tree to another. Its wingspan is 22 cm.
