At worst, the larvae may eat rotten wooden fence posts. If you live outside of Texas, contact your local extension for management options.Įastern Hercules Beetles are not considered pests. Management If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. After mating, the females then burrow into the ground and lay eggs. Males use their horns as they fight to determine which will mate with the female. 11Despite a nine-year, multi agency battle against the coconut rhinoceros beetle on Oahu, eradication appears to be unattainable here, and officials have turned to a containment and. After the adults emerge, the females release a pheromone that attracts males for mating. A few weeks after pupation, the adult beetles emerge. The eggs hatch and the larvae live underground from six months to one year during which time they grow, molt and pupate underground. Life Cycleįemale beetles lay eggs in the soil when they are active during warm months. They have been observed feeding on the bark and sap of ash trees and on rotten fruit. They emerge in the summer and live above ground for 3-6 months. Adults emerge from the pupal stage, but stay underground during the winter. They produce large rectangular fecal pellets about. The larvae feed on rotten material (logs, stumps, dead leaves and rotten fruit). The larvae are large, white, C-shaped grubs. The western hercules beetle, Dynastes granti, is found in Arizona and Utah and Dynastes hyllus is found in Mexico, as far north as the state of Tamaulipas. These large beetles can be found across the southern U.S. It has been recorded as far north as Illinois and New York state. The eastern hercules beetle, Dynastes tityus, can be found in the eastern half of the U.S. Many have dark colored spots on the elytra. There are several subspecies some of which are colored differently. Thats the Rhinoceros Beetle, STRATEGUS ALOEUS, distributed from Arizona to Georgia and Puerto Rico south to Brazil - just about all the Americas hot lowlands. The coloraton of the beetles is variable, but females are typically brownish black and males typically have black heads and black, brown or green bodies. Males use the horns to fight with other males as they compete for mating. Habitat & Hosts The larvae are large, white, C-shaped grubs. On some, the horns are longer than the rest of the body. These large beetles can be found across the southern U.S. Males have large horns which are usually about 1/3 of the body length. The males can reach a length of 7 inches. The eastern hercules beetle is one of the largest insects in the United States. Dreamstime is the worlds largest stock photography community. Photo Credit: Steve ThomasArticle author: Charles Allen Most recently reviewed by: Pat Porter (2018) Common Name(s): Eastern Hercules Beetle, Rhinoceros Beetle Description Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights.
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