Appearance:
The Hercules Beetle males and females look very different. In fact, it was originally believed that they were two different species. The males are smooth and shiny with wing cases that are a beautiful olive-green color with large black spots. They have two sword-shaped horns, a large one that grows from the thorax extending over the head, and a smaller horn growing from the bottom of the head extending upward. The horns can amount to half of the body length. They can grow up to 6.75 inches long. Female Hercules Beetles have no horns, however ther bodies are larger than males, if you don't include the horns. Female wing cases are beaded and covered in thick reddish hair.
Male: Female:
Lifespan:
As with all insects, the Hercules Beetle comes from an egg. The beetle emerges from the egg in about one month, in larvae form. Lasting from one to two years, the beetle grows and matures, molting four times. The larvae then encases itself in a pupae, and emerges as an adult, which lives for approximately one year.
Foraging Habits:
Hercules Beetles mainly eat at night, preferring not to come out of hiding in the daytime. They eat tree sap, nectar, and rotting fruit in the wild. In captivity they will eat apples, pears, watermelon, and cantaloupe. As larvae, they eat decomposing wood.
Mating Habits:
The males horns, surprisingly, are not used for protection. They are however, used for battle with other males over females. The victorious male with a feeding site can then likely attract a mate. This behavior is very common in the animal kingdom, the male with the most resources can usually get the female. These resources can include many things: food, territory, or ability to care for young.
Number of Young Produced:
Females lay over 100 eggs in rotting logs. The number varies based on the condition of the beetle and the environment.
Habitat:
The beetles live in Tropical Rainforests, preferably near shady areas, with vegetation. They also need decaying logs to lay their eggs in and for the larvae to eat from.
Home Range:
Hercules Beetles are found in Mexico, Central and Northern South America, Guadaloupe, Japan, and the Dominican Republic.