Rhinoceros Beetles.

The Super Strong Hercules beetle.

Beetles are one of the main groups of insects. Their order, Coleoptera ("sheathed wing"), has more species in it than any other order in the entire animal kingdom. Forty percent of all described insect species are beetles. Beetles are generally characterised by a hard exoskeleton (an external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body), and the hard wing-cases which cover the hind part of the body and protect the second wings, (the alae). The bodies of beetles are divided into three sections, the head, the thorax, and the abdomen.

Dynastine group is comprise of the rhinoceros beetle which are known for their big size. Probably the most famous is the Dynastes Hercules.

These rhinoceros beetles are the strongest animals alive in relation with to their body weight. They can lift 850 times their own body weight (elephants can carry 25% of their weight). There are over 300 known species of the rhino beetles. The rhinoceros are among the largest of beetles, and they are completely harmless to humans.

Their name comes from their unique horn on its head. They use their horn to fight other males during mating season, for foraging and digging. The rhino beetle can take short flights. However, due to its large size they are not very good at it. 

Rhinoceros beetles are more active at night. They usually reproduce during the rainy season and their life stages suffer a complete metamorphosis.

First the larvae hatch from eggs. Once the egg hatches the larva of a beetle represents the principal feeding stage of the life-cycle and it feeds voraciously. In its next stage, the larvae becomes a pupa, and from the pupa emerges a fully formed beetle. A rhino beetle's larval stage can be several years long depending on the species.The larvae feed on rotten wood and the adults feed on nectar, plant sap and fruit. The female beetles lay 50 eggs on average.

Hercules Beetle. Dynastes hercules

The Hercules beetle, (6.75 inches) is among the 6 species in the Dynastes genus, and is one of the largest beetles known in the world only exceeded in length by only two other beetles in the Macrodontia Cervicornis and the Titan beetle.. Adult males have an upper horn that protrudes forward from the thorax and a lower horn that protrudes forward from the head. Females lack horns.

Hercules beetles live underground as larvae for ten to 16 months, but only live for one to a year and a half as adults. The adult eats rotten fruit and the bark of ash trees.

A variety of sizes occur among the adults, apparently related to the level of nutrients that the larva obtained, but temperature can also play a role. The range in size could go between 45 mm, 170 mm.

To survive they require old growth rainforest where they can find large decaying logs. Therefore is is important to protect their natural environment.

Definitely, an impressive creature of the rainforest!