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Species in News: Rhinoceros Beetle
Overview of the Species:
Taxonomy:
- Order: Coleoptera
- Family: Scarabaeidae
- Subfamily: Dynastinae
- Also known as: Atlas beetle, Dynastinae, Hercules beetle, elephant beetle.
- Habitat: Found on every continent except Antarctica. Found in tropical and subtropical regions.
- Commonly hides in leaf litter, plants, and fallen logs during the day.
Physical Features:
- Colour: Mostly black, grey, or greenish. Some have soft hairs.
- Horn-like Projections: Prominent on the males’ heads, used for combat.
- Size: Can grow up to six inches (15 centimetres), among the largest beetles.
Strength:
- Lifting Ability: Can lift objects upto 30 times their own weight; some can lift upto 100 times their weight but struggle with movement at that weight.
- Comparison: Equivalent to a human carrying an adult male white rhinoceros.
Diet:
- Larval Stage: Feeds on decaying wood.
- Adult Stage: Feeds on fruit and sap.
Behaviour:
- Mating: Males use their strength to fight other males for mating rights.
- Alternative Name: Hercules beetle, reflecting their incredible strength.
- Flight: Capable of short flights but is not very graceful due to its heavy body.
- Disturbance Response: When disturbed, rhinoceros beetles produce hissing squeaks rather than vocal noises by rubbing their abdomen and wing covers together.
Life History:
- Mating Rituals: Males use their horns to drive away other males during mating rituals.
- Reproduction: Females lay approximately 50 eggs, which hatch into larvae.
- Development: Larvae undergo several moults before reaching adult size and form.
- Lifespan: Typically one to two years, with a significant portion spent in the larval stage