Hercules beetle: The strongest giant of the beetle world

The Hercules beetle is the true "strongman champion" of the beetle world. By total length it is one of the largest beetles. The male wears a huge, forked horn on its head that looks like a real trident. Let's meet this giant of the South American rainforest.

Its body

The male Hercules beetle's horn is exceptionally long, often almost half its body, split into an upper and lower arm like a pair of pincers. Its body ranges from black to olive with a hard, glossy shell. It is astonishingly strong — some estimate it can lift several hundred times its own weight, making it a genuine "strongman" among insects.

The female has a much shorter horn and a smaller body; her job is to lay eggs in rotting wood. The larvae live in rotten wood for a year or two, growing slowly before finally moulting into adults.

Where it lives and what it eats

Adults chiefly drink tree sap and over-ripe fruit, getting their energy from these sweet liquids. They live in the warm, damp tropical rainforest, where food is plentiful — exactly what supports such a huge body. The male's great horn is mainly for fighting other males over territory and mates.

A note for grown-ups

You could ask a child: "If it is so strong, why does it still need to eat?" Even a champion needs energy, and that energy comes from the sugar in its food. Linking strength and food helps a child see that every amazing animal is powered by meals.