Hercules+Beetle

Hercules Beetle //Dynastes hercules// Phyla: Arthropoda
 * class:** insecta


 * Location:** Native to the jungles of South America. Found throughout the Tropical jungles and rainforests in Central and South America.
 * Size:** The hercules beetle can reach between 1.5 and 6.7 inches and the males can be found up to 7 inches.


 * Description of habitat:** Tropical Rainforests. Enjoys a lot of leaf litter and debris on the ground because it is beneficial in helping them hide from predators.
 * Living Requirements:** Needs to be around decaying wood, fruit, and leaves for food.


 * Life cycle:** The hercules beetle goes threw a larva stage in which it can grow to be up to 4.5 inches. It can stay in this larva stage for 1-2 years. During this stage it spends most of its time burring threw decaying wood. After the larva stage, it goes into a pupa stage where molting occurs and then an adult beetle will emerge.


 * Male/Female differences:** Males tend to get larger than females. Also, males have a giant horn like pincers coming from there forheads. This horns can grow to be bigger than the beetles body. The horns are used for solving disputes between it and other males. Females do not have horns and there bodies are larger, but shorter than the males.


 * Facts:** The hercules are Omnivorous. Its favorite food is decaying wood but it will eat fruit, leaves, and small insects as well. For its size, the hercules beetle is said to be the strongest animal on earth. They can lift 850 times there own body weight. Bats, rats, and birds prey on the hercules beetle.



This animal is only threatened because of loss of habitat due to deforestation and water and air pollution. There are organizations trying to prevent the deforestation and loss of the tropical jungles and rainforests this beetle lives in.
 * Endangered/Threatened:**
 * Human Impact:** Humans are cutting down and destroying these animals natural habitat which is causing them to be a threatened species. Also, there air and water is being polluted which can cause health problems.