Hercules Beetleヘラクレスオオカブト

Dynastes herculesNE— Not Evaluated

The Hercules beetle is one of the largest beetles in the world, famous for the male's enormous curved horn used to battle rivals for mates. Native to the humid forests of Central and South America, it spends most of its roughly two-year life cycle as a wood-eating larva before a brief adult stage.

Hercules Beetle (reference photo)
Photo: Franz Xaver / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Coleoptera / Scarabaeidae Source
Distribution
Ranges from southern Mexico through Central and South America to Bolivia, including the Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, and Tobago, inhabiting humid forests from lowlands up to elevations of 1,000-2,000 m. Source

Did You Know?

  • Its elytra have a porous structure that darkens to black when humidity is high and turns olive-yellow in drier conditions. Source
  • Occasionally, individuals with bluish-gray elytra known as "blue Hercules" appear and are highly prized by collectors in Japan. Source
  • Males fight rivals by using their long horns to pin and pry opponents off tree trunks or the ground. Source

Where to See This Species

1 facilities · 0 individuals

東京都多摩動物公園 (Toukyoutotama Doubutsu Kouen)TokyoOpened in 1958

昆虫園本館の外国産昆虫展示コーナーでヘラクレスオオカブトを展示 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNの評価区分は資料上明確でないためnullとした。

Habitat

中南米の熱帯林。

Threats

  • 森林の減少
  • 採集圧

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

  • 飼育下繁殖
  • 生息環境を保つ取組

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

How big can a Hercules beetle get?
Including its horn, the largest wild specimen on record measured 172.7 mm, and a captive-bred individual reached 184.3 mm, among the longest beetles known. Source
What do Hercules beetle larvae eat?
Larvae feed on rotting wood inside decaying logs for about two years before pupating into adults. Source
Why do Hercules beetles change color?
Their porous elytra absorb moisture, turning black in humid conditions and olive-yellow when dry, a trait unusual among beetles. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org