Hercules BeetleDynastes hercules
Quick facts
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Active during
- Night
- Found in
- Lotsamoss Woods
- Length
- 2 in
- Wingspan
- 3.8 in
From the field notes
Diet
As larvae, they eat damp, rotting wood. Once they become adults, they have more of a sweet tooth, clumsily flying through the rainforests in search of decaying, sugar-rich fruit.
Defense
These beetles rely primarily on their thick, tank-like shell for defense. However, when humidity spikes, the green wing covers (elytra) of male beetles temporarily turn pitch black, allowing them to blend perfectly into wet bark.
Heavy Lifter
The Hercules beetle earns its name from its incredible strength. It is capable of lifting objects up to 100 times its own body weight.
Colossal Grubs
The collos colossal larvae spend up to two years burrowed inside rotting logs. These massive grubs can grow to the size of a human hand and weigh over 100 grams before transforming into a heavily armored, fist-sized pupa.
Field Marks
Males boast an enormous set of horns that can make up half their total body length. Females are entirely hornless, significantly smaller, and feature a duller, heavily textured shell.