Eastern Hercules Beetle
Dynastes tityus
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
- Family: Scarabaeidae
- Subfamily: Dynastinae
- Tribe: Dynastini
- Genus: Dynastes
- Species: tityus
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Dynastes tityus: //dɪˈnæs.tiːz ˈtɪt.i.əs//
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Summary
Dynastes tityus, or the Eastern Hercules Beetle, is a large rhinoceros beetle native to the Eastern United States, known for its size, distinctive coloration, and unique life cycle.
Physical Characteristics
40-60 mm long, including male 'horns'. Huge size with greenish elytra that have variable dark spots; males have massive horns on head and pronotum. Size of horns reflects food availability during growth.
Identification Tips
Male Dynastes tityus can be identified by their long pronotal and clypeal horns, which are used for fighting over mates.
Habitat
Deciduous forests; adults may be found on logs or under moist leaf-litter.
Distribution
Native to the Eastern United States, ranging from New York, Illinois, and Indiana in the north to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico in the south, with western limits in eastern Texas and western Arkansas.
Diet
Adults feed on rotting fruit and sap; larvae feed on decaying wood, particularly in hardwood logs.
Life Cycle
The life cycle may take up to three years, with a two-year cycle suggested for high-risk conditions due to the EAB. Adults hibernate in pupal cells during winter and emerge in summer.
Reproduction
Mating can last up to 50 minutes; females lay up to 100 eggs in large cavities at or near the bases of decaying trees during summer.
Predators
Mites, skunks, raccoons, soil-dwelling arthropods like centipedes and ground beetles, and Mydas fly larvae that feed on eggs.
Ecosystem Role
Larvae are saproxylophagous, meaning they play a key role in the decomposition of dead wood.
Cultural Significance
Featured on a stamp issued by the United States Postal Service in October 1999.
Health Concerns
Harmless to humans despite their size and horns.
Evolution
The genus Dynastes is theorized to originate from South America, with the North American lineage appearing after the closure of the Panama Isthmus 3.5 million years ago.
Similar Taxa
Misconceptions
Despite their size and features, Dynastes tityus are not dangerous and do not harm humans.
Tags
- beetle
- Hercules beetle
- Dynastes tityus
- rhinoceros beetle