Eastern Hercules Beetle - (Dynastes tityus)

The speckled and horned Eastern Hercules Beetle is a Scarab Beetle that is as strong and as large as a rhino (in the beetle world).

Staff Writer (8/16/2017): This massive beetle can be found in hardwood forests in the Eastern U.S.. Despite their immense size and heft, they can fly very well. As members of the Rhinoceros beetle family, males have two horn-like pincers on their head, while females lack them. They are likely used in battle with other males over territory. Both genders are a creamy, yellowish color, but their color can darken when they are fully hydrated and fed.

Larvae eat decaying wood from a variety of dead trees: pines, oak, maples and more. They take 2 years to become adults, pupating inside the rotted tree in a protective cell made of soil and their own feces. The larvae finish pupating in autumn, but stay inside the tree until warmer temperatures come in the spring. Adults are attracted to rotting fruits, tree sap and lights at night.

©2005-2017 www.InsectIdentification.org. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction Permitted. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from www.InsectIdentification.org is strictly prohibited. Material presented throughout this website is for entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for scientific research or medical advice (insect bites, etc...). Please consult licensed, degreed professionals for such information. Email corrections / Comments to InsectIdentification at Gmail dot com.

Details of the:
Eastern Hercules Beetle

Category: Beetle
Common name: Eastern Hercules Beetle
Scientific Name: Dynastes tityus

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Scarabaeidae

Genus: Dynastes

Species: tityus

Size (Adult, Length): 40mm to 60mm (1.57in to 2.36in)

Identifying Colors: ivory; black; beige; tan; brown

Additional Descriptors: horn, pointy, helmet, spike, nose

North American Reach (Though Not Limited To*): Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Indiana; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Mississippi; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; Ohio; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Virginia; West Virginia

* Keep in mind that an insect's reach is not limited by lines on a map and therefore may appear in areas/regions/states beyond those listed above.

BUGFINDER: What Kind of Bug is This...

BUGFINDER allows for a quick search of the Insect Identification database by selecting primary color, secondary color, number of legs and the territory / state in question. If only one color is present on your insect, select it again as its SECONDARY color. Remember that the more details you can offer, the better your chances of finding a match. As a rule of thumb, six legs are typical for most insects whereas spiders generally have eight legs.

Primary Color:

Secondary Color:

Number of Legs:

State / Province:

General Category: