Hercules beetle
| Hercules beetle | |
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| Male Hercules beetle, Dynastes hercules. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Subfamily: | Dynastinae |
| Genus: | Dynastes |
| Species: | D. hercules |
| Binomial name | |
| Dynastes hercules (Linnaeus, 1758) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Scarabaeus hercules Linnaeus 1758 |
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The Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules, Dynastinae) is a rhinoceros beetle native to the rainforests of Central America, South America, Lesser Antilles, and the Andes.[1] They are large beetles, with some males reaching 17.5 cm including the horn,[2] and a slightly iridescent colouration to their elytra, which also vary in colour from beetle to beetle, and even depending on the humidity.[3][4] Dynastes hercules is highly sexually dimorphic, with only males exhibiting the characteristic horn.[1] Several subspecies have been named, though there is still some uncertainty as to the validity of the named taxa.[2][5] Reports suggest the Hercules beetle is able to carry up to 850 times its body mass[6] but actual measurements on a much smaller (and relatively stronger: see square-cube law) species of rhinoceros beetle shows a carrying capacity only up to 100 times their body mass, at which point they can barely move.[6]
Contents
Named subspecies[5][edit]
- Dynastes hercules bleuzeni Silvestre & Dechambre, 1995
- Dynastes hercules ecuatorianus Ohaus, 1913
- Dynastes hercules hercules (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Dynastes hercules lichyi Lachaume, 1985
- Dynastes hercules morishimai Nagai, 2002
- Dynastes hercules occidentalis Lachaume, 1985
- Dynastes hercules paschoali Grossi & Arnaud, 1993
- Dynastes hercules reidi Chalumeau, 1977
- Dynastes hercules septentrionalis Lachaume, 1985
- Dynastes hercules trinidadensis Chalumeau & Reid, 1995
Life Cycle[edit]
The larval stage of the Hercules beetle will last one to two years, with the larva growing up to 4.5 inches (11 cm) in length and weighing more than 100 grams. Much of the life of the larva is spent tunneling through rotting wood. After the larval period, transformation into a pupa, and moulting, the beetle then emerges as an adult.[7]
Diet[edit]
The larval stage of the Hercules beetle will feed on rotting wood during this two year stage.[3] The adult Hercules beetle feeds on fresh and rotting fruit.[3][4] They have been observed feeding on peaches, pear, apple, and grapes within captivity.[4][7]
Gallery[edit]
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Female
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Larva
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Dynastes hercules hercules. Male
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Dynastes hercules lichyi. Male from Peru (144mm)
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References[edit]
- ^ a b Huang, J. Parapatric genetic introgression and phenotypic assimilation: testing conditions for introgression between Hercules beetles (Dynastes, Dynastinae). Molecular Ecology, vol. 25, 2016, 13p.
- ^ a b Ratcliffe BC, Cave RD. 2015. The dynastine scarab beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum 28: l-346.
- ^ a b c Rassart, M., Colomer, J. F., Tabarrant, T., Vigneron, J. P. Diffractive hygrochromic effect in the cuticle of the hercules beetle Dynastes hercules. New Journal Of Physics, vol. 10, 2008, 14p.
- ^ a b c Hinton, H. E., Jarman, G. M. Physiological colour change in the elytra of the Hercules beetle, Dynastes hercules. Journal of Insect Physiology, vol. 19, 1973, 16p.
- ^ a b Huang, J., Knowles, L. The species versus subspecies conundrum: quantitative delimitation from integrating multiple data types within a single bayesian approach in Hercules beetles. Systematic Biology, vol. 65, 2015, 15p.
- ^ a b Kram, R. Inexpensive load carrying by rhinoceros beetles. The Journal of Experimental Biology,vol. 199, 1996, 4p.
- ^ a b Krell, F., Krell, V. Longevity of the Western Hercules beetle, D. grantii Horn (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin, vol. 69, 2015, 1p.
Further reading[edit]
- Catálogo electrónico de los organismos presentes en Colombia (Spanish)
- Gilbert Lachaume: The Beetles of the World, volume 5, Dynastini 1, 1985, Sciences Nat, Venette. [1]
- Reid, 1995 - Une nouvelle sous-espèce de Dynastes hercules, Besoiro, Nr. 1
- Rigout (J.), 1985 - Elevage de Dynastes hercules, Bulletin de la Société Sciences Nat, 45
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dynastes hercules. |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Dynastes hercules |
- Family Scarabaeidae - Dynastes hercules
- The Breeding/Rearing of Dynastes hercules hercules
- Photos of Dynastes hercules ecuatorianus
- Photos of Dynastes hercules hercules
- Photos of Dynastes hercules lichyi
- Photos of Dynastes hercules occidentalis
- Clemson University Arthropod Collection
