Hercules_Beetle

The Hercules (Heracles) Beetle is probably the most awesome arthropod (an invertebrate with jointed limbs) ever in existence.
=Habitat & Range:=

This beetle lives in the remote rain forests of Central America and South America.
=**Physical Characteristics**:=

The adult male beetle is about 6.75 inches, as the larva is about 4 inches, and weighs up to 120 grams.
=**Diet**:=

The Hercules beetle eats decaying fruit on the rain forest floor.
=**Behavior & Adaptations:**= ==The two horns in the beetles head and abdomen are the //cephalic// and //thoracic// horns, which are used for fighting other males for grand supremacy and for attracting females during mating season. Also, the beetle can lift 850 times its weight.==

=**Reproduction:**=

Nothing was found for reproduction.
=No relationships with people=

=Status:=

This beetle is not endangered, but common.
= =

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=Sources:= "Hercules Beetle" Wikipedia March 30, 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_beetle

"Big Bug Book" by Barbara Taylor, Dr. Jen Green, and John Farndon published by Hermes House in London, England 2002, 2004