THE HERCULES BEETLE IS BIG BUT NOT DANGEROUS

Aug7

       Whenever you encounter the eastern Hercules beetle (Dynastes tityus), you may be astonished at it size and perhaps fear it might bite you. 

       The eastern Hercules beetle is indeed large, in fact, since it can attain a length of around 2.5 inches, it is probably the largest beetle you will see in your backyard.

       However, while it appears dangerous, it will not bite or sting.  It much prefers to eat rotting fruit or the sap exuded from ash trees than human flesh.

       Both male and female eastern Hercules beetles range in color from olive green, to tan and gray.  Their exoskeletons display multiple black spots. No two beetles have the same number and distribution of spots.  Consequently, researchers use the spots to identify individuals.

       As you can see from the photos that accompany this blog, males sport two pronotal horns that some described as looking like the horns of a rhinoceros. The males use these horns when fighting for the opportunity to mate with females.  Females lack horns.

       Although they are found throughout Georgia, the homeowners that are most apt to find one of these giant beetles are those have yards that feature scattered hardwood trees, especially those where rotten limbs have be allowed to remain on the ground.  Eastern Hercules beetle larvae feed on rotting wood, especially oak.

       Since eastern Hercules beetles are nocturnal, it is unlikely that most of us spot one unless it is drawn to an outside light.

       The strength of eastern Hercules beetles is legendary.  Perhaps that is the reason we sometimes refer to it as the ox or elephant beetle.  It is said that it can lift an object 850 times its own weight.  This is the equivalent of a human lifting nine fully-grown elephants.

       I hope you will have the opportunity to spot this gentle giant in your yard.  It represents one of the countless animals that are hiding in plain sight in our backyards.

        

5 thoughts on “THE HERCULES BEETLE IS BIG BUT NOT DANGEROUS”

  1. I’m in middle TN. Was just cleaning out my fireplace that I haven’t used for a few years. Just found one of these in there and was completely shocked by it’s size, at least 2-2.5 inches. Never seen these before. Apparently mine is a female. Neat looking critter.

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  3. I was cleaning in my kitchen late last night and noticed a huge bug on my stove. It absolutely freaked me out. My husband was already asleep so being the good wife that I am, I let him sleep and put a wire/mesh strainer over it until my husband was up for work today. It had crawled from the stove top up the side of the strainer towards the top (which actually was the bottom of the strainer). I explained to my husband what was going on and he got the strainer and took it outside to get rid of the bug (beetle?). He texted me from work saying the same thing I did which was “that was the biggest bug he had ever seen.” He and I both have been trying to look at pictures to determine what it was. He thought it was completely black and resembled an armored insect that is know in Georgia for having a vital role in breaking down rotting wood. I disagreed with his finding. Although I did not get extremely close and the lighting was dim, I would not have been able to see it if it was black as our stove top is black. I could make it out even from a few feet away and could tell it was likely 2 plus inches in length and the back was not flat, it was rounded and feel like it might have been beige or green, possibly with black or dark markings on it. The roundedness of it made it appear to have height/thickness to it which possibly an inch or two high but again rounded, not flat. I’m not sure that the Hercules Beetle is it either but seems to be the closest to what I think I saw. Would love to know if anyone might be aware of seeing anything as I described or a good website that might show pictures of different beetles/bugs. I’ve seen some pics but hoping there might be a better sight. Thanks in advance.

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