Common Name: Hercules Rhino Beetle
Scientific Name: Dynastes hercules
Distribution: Caribbean Islands, Central America, South America
Guiness World Record Size:
Wild – ### mm
Captive Breeding – 181.2 mm
Dynastes hercules – a large adult male
Egg to Adult: 12 months
Adult Lifespan: 12 months
Pupal Stage Duration: 1 month
Maturation Time of Fresh Adults: 2 months
Egg Incubation Time-Length: 1 month
Rearing Temperature: Room temperature (18-25C)
Extant Subspecies with Distribution:
1. Dynastes hercules hercules – Guadeloupe Island
2. Dynastes hercules bluezeni – Venezuela
3. Dynastes hercules ecuatorianus – Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
4. Dynastes hercules lichyi – Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
5. Dynastes hercules morishimai – Bolivia
6. Dynastes hercules occidentalis – Colombia, Ecuador, Panama
7. Dynastes hercules paschoali – Brazil
8. Dynastes hercules reidi – Saint Lucia
9. Dynastes hercules septentrionalis – Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
10. Dynastes hercules takakuwai – Brazil
11. Dynastes hercules trinidadensis – Trinidad and Tobago
12. Dynastes hercules tutlaensis – Mexico
Species Description:
The Hercules Rhino Beetle, (Dynastes hercules) is the largest beetle in the where the current world record specimen has been measured at just over 180mm in length. Hercules Rhino Beetles are undoubtedly the most popular and most sought after species by hobbyists due to its great size and its “wow-factor”. Dynastes hercules is a stunningly large beetle with yellow, spotted elytra (wings) and long, impressive horns which they use to fight other males in order to secure mating rights with females.
The Hercules Rhino Beetle has a very wide distribution around Central America and South America, and there are currently 12 different geographically isolated subspecies which all have regional differences such as overall body size, horn shape, and elytra colour (wings). I have listed the 12 different subspecies along with their distribution below.
Food for Beetle Larvae:
As with most rhino beetle species (Dynastinae subfamily), the larvae will feed on substrate that is mainly composed of decayed wood of trees in the Beech family (Fabaceae family) which include oaks (Quercus spp.), beech, (Fagus spp.) and chestnut, (Castanea spp.). A general beetle substrate guide that covers the different types of substrates for different types of beetles can be found HERE.
Unlike with stag beetle larvae, a portion of the substrate for rhino beetle larvae can be replaced with decayed leaves of the same tree species if there is a shortage of decayed wood. I recommend that the ratio of leaves should not exceed the ratio of 1:4 (20% : 80%) of leaves to wood respectively.
To raise large adults, home-made Flake Soil should be used instead of leaves / wood collected from nature. Flake Soil is the term used for fresh sawdust that has been decayed under controlled conditions with additional protein sources that results in a uniform, earthy substrate that is rich in nutrients.
To view my tried and tested flake soil recipe with a breakdown of tips and tricks, please click HERE.
Food for Adult Beetles:
Adult beetles can be fed on beetle jelly or most sweet fruits such as bananas, apples, mangos, peaches, melons and watermelons to name a few. Adult females should preferably be given fruits that are higher in protein content such as bananas to aid in their egg production.
Foods to avoid for adult beetles are certain types of sugar-water, and fruits high in acidity such as those in the Citrus genus (oranges, lemons, grapefruits, etc.). Fruits that are high in acidity are said to disrupt the pH balance in the gut of some species, potentially leading to refusal to feed after a certain period of time.
Sugar-water made with sucrose (table sugar) should be avoided, as with butterflies, as sucrose has a tendency to re-crystalise in the digestive tract, rupturing and killing the adult beetle from the inside over time. A sugar water mixture made from fructose (fruit sugar) on the other hand is safe to use as fructose will remain in solution when ingested.
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Photos from my Breeding:
Dynastes hercules – an adult male and female pairing
Dynastes hercules – L2 and L3 larvae