Males have large horns which are usually about 1/3 of the body length.

The larvae are large, white, C-shaped grubs. This is also true of moths, flies, bees, ants, wasps, and all other beetles. The eastern hercules beetle, Dynastes tityus, can be found in the eastern half of the U.S. Growing up to nearly 3.5 inches, the main Hercules beetle is one of the largest beetle species in the world! Hercules beetles start life as a grub and must spend 3 months as a pupa before they can become a sexually-mature adult beetle. It is the longest extant species of beetle in the world, and is also one of the largest flying insects in the world.

The males can reach a length of 7 inches.

On some, the horns are longer than the rest of the body. The American Hercules beetles reproduce by complete metamorphosis.

These beetles have wings and can fall great distances without being harmed.

From shop NaCraftTH. Many have dark colored spots on the elytra. At a certain size, the insects often develop sexual organs and are able to reproduce. Huang, J., Knowles, L. The species versus subspecies conundrum: quantitative delimitation from integrating multiple data types within a single bayesian approach in Hercules beetles. Hercules Beetle Glass Figurines Murano Glassblowing Artwork Handmade Insect Figure Home Decor Garden Ornaments Collections NaCraftTH. It has been recorded as far north as Illinois and New York state. Retrieved from https://biologydictionary.net/hercules-beetle/. They are easy to take care of, provide opportunities to learn about all different types of biology, and most can be handled safely. The Hercules beetles – in the genus Dynastes – are much larger than other rhinoceros beetles. Two wild captive insects can produce an entire line of beetles for the pet trade. They have a black suture with sparsely distributed black spots elsewhere on the elytra.

Female beetles lay eggs in the soil when they are active during warm months. Hercules beetles are named for their incredible strength. Hercules beetles are sexually dimorphic – only the males have large horns. The Western Hercules Beetle occupies areas of western North America and has become much more adapted to dry climates. The eggs hatch and the larvae live underground from six months to one year during which time they grow, molt and pupate underground. This involves the same stages as the process in their tropical relative. “Hercules Beetle.”, Biologydictionary.net Editors.

[9][10] They have been observed feeding on peaches, pears, apples, and grapes in captivity. After mating, the females then burrow into the ground and lay eggs. [11], Reports suggest the Hercules beetle is able to carry up to 850 times its body mass.

After the adults emerge, the females release a pheromone that attracts males for mating. Over the course of a year or more, the larva develops into an adult.

This variability results from developmental mechanisms that coincide with genetic predisposition in relation to nutrition, stress, exposure to parasites, and/or physiological conditions.

Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, TX. The beetle will allow its new shell to harden for several hours, before venturing out to find food and a mate. Like all other beetles, Hercules beetles start life as an egg. 33. Hercules beetles belong to the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae), which also includes Japanese Beetles, June Beetles, and Dung Beetles. Males use the horns to fight with other males as they compete for mating. Males have large horns which are usually about 1/3 of the body length.

Click for a hub of Extension resources related to the current COVID-19 situation. Eastern Hercules Beetle female.

The western Hercules beetle has the scientific name Dynastes grantii.

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/beetles/hercules/hercules.htm#cycle.

Hercules Beetle. This form of metamorphosis is considered incomplete metamorphosis because the insects remain in a similar form throughout different stages. 1998. Other rhinoceros beetles either have a single horn on their head, or 3+ horns protruding from different areas of the exoskeleton. This ends the fight much quicker and allows the successful male to mate with the female. [11] Once hatched, the larval stage of the Hercules beetle may last up to two years in duration, where it will go through 3 metamorphosis stages, also known as instars. In the wild, these fights may be settled faster. [5], The larvae of the Hercules beetle are saproxylophagous, this means that they feed on rotting wood, in which they also reside during the two-year developmental stage. Bart Drees. http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/beetles/hercules/hercules.htm#cycle, Eastern Hercules Beetle larvaeAaron Goodwin Tulsa Zoo. Hercules beetles are among the largest of the Rhinoceros Beetles – found in the subfamily Dynastinae. In captivity, this often results in males lifting and slamming each other into the ground until one gets tired. Eastern Hercules Beetles are not considered pests. While it is always important to research any pet you want to get, Hercules Beetles are kept as pets in places as far from their home as Japan.