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Hercules Beetle

Dynastes Hercules

Last updated: February 24, 2021
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
  1. Animals Home
  2. All Animals
  3. Invertebrates
  4. Insects
  5. Hercules Beetle

Can grow up to 7 inches long!

Continue Reading after the facts...


Hercules Beetle Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Scarabaeidae
Genus
Dynastes
Scientific Name
Dynastes Hercules

Hercules Beetle Conservation Status

  • Near Threatened

Hercules Beetle Locations

  • Central-America
  • South-America
Hercules Beetle Locations

Hercules Beetle Facts

Main Prey
Decaying wood, Fruit, Leaves
Distinctive Feature
Hard, armoured shell and horn-like pincers
Habitat
Tropical Rainforest
Predators
Bats, Rats, Birds
Diet
Omnivore
Average Litter Size
100
Favorite Food
Decaying wood
Common Name
Hercules Beetle
Number Of Species
13
Location
Central and South America
Slogan
Can grow up to 7 inches long!

Hercules Beetle Physical Characteristics

Colour
  • Brown
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • Black
  • White
  • Green
Skin Type
Shell
Length
4cm - 17cm (1.5in - 6.7in)

Hercules Beetle Images

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The Hercules beetle is one of the largest species of beetle in the world, and is natively found in the jungles of South America. The Hercules beetle is the largest and most well known of all of the rhinoceros beetles, a group of large beetles that are closely related to the famous scarab beetle.

The Hercules beetle is found throughout the tropical jungles and rainforests of Central and South America, where the Hercules beetle spends the majority of its time foraging through the leaf-litter on the forest floor in search of something to eat. The fallen debris also helps to hide this enormous insect as it moves about.

There are thirteen known species of Hercules beetle found in the jungles of South America and the Hercules beetle was named for its sheer size as some males have been known to reach nearly 7 inches in length. Although it is quite rare for these beetles to get quite so big, the average adult Hercules beetle is usually between four and fifteen centimetres long depending on the species.

The most distinctive feature of the Hercules beetle has to be the enormous horn-like pincers which protrude from the forehead of the males. These horns can grow longer than the Hercules beetle’s body and are mainly used for solving disputes with other male Hercules beetles. Female Hercules beetles do not have horns but their bodies are thought to be larger, but shorter than their male counterparts.

The Hercules beetle is an omnivorous animal but it;’s diet both in its larvae and adult stages, is primarily made up of decaying plant matter. Rotting wood is the favoured meal of the Hercules beetle, along with fruits and other plant matter and the occasional small insect.

The Hercules beetle is said to be the strongest creature on earth for its size, able to carry 850 times its own body weight but these enormous insects are still hunted by numerous animals throughout the jungles of Central and South America. Bats, rats and birds are the main predators of the Hercules beetle along with reptiles and omnivorous mammals.

The larval stage of the Hercules beetle will last one to two years, with the larva growing up to 4.5 inches in length and weighing up to 120 grams. Much of the life of the Hercules beetle larva is spent tunnelling through its primary food source of rotting wood. After the larval period, transformation into a pupa, and moulting occur, with the Hercules beetle then emerging as an adult.

Today, the Hercules beetle is threatened as much of its natural habitat has been lost to deforestation or been affected by both air and water pollution.

View all 32 animals that start with H


Hercules Beetle FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are Hercules Beetles herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?

Hercules Beetles are Omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and other animals.

What Kingdom do Hercules Beetles belong to?

Hercules Beetles belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What phylum to Hercules Beetles belong to?

Hercules Beetles belong to the phylum Arthropoda.

What phylum to Hercules Beetles belong to?

Hercules Beetles belong to the phylum Arthropoda.

What family do Hercules Beetles belong to?

Hercules Beetles belong to the family Scarabaeidae.

What order do Hercules Beetles belong to?

Hercules Beetles belong to the order Coleoptera.

What genus do Hercules Beetles belong to?

Hercules Beetles belong to the genus Dynastes.

What type of covering do Hercules Beetles have?

Hercules Beetles are covered in Shells.

Where do Hercules Beetles live?

Hercules Beetles live in Central and South America.

In what type of habitat do Hercules Beetles live?

Hercules Beetles live in tropical rainforests.

What is the main prey for Hercules Beetles?

Hercules Beetles eat decaying wood, fruit, and leaves.

What are some predators of Hercules Beetles?

Predators of Hercules Beetles include bats, rats, and birds.

What are some distinguishing features of Hercules Beetles?

Hercules Beetles have hard, armored shells and horn-like pincers.

How many babies do Hercules Beetles have?

The average number of babies a Hercules Beetle has is 100.

What is an interesting fact about Hercules Beetles?

Hercules Beetles can grow up to 7 inches long!

What is the scientific name for the Hercules Beetle?

The scientific name for the Hercules Beetle is Dynastes Hercules.

How many species of Hercules Beetle are there?

There are 13 species of Hercules Beetle.

How many species of Hercules Beetle are there?

There are 13 species of Hercules Beetle.

Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals

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