Have you ever seen a rhinoceros at the zoo? A rhino is a big and strong animal known for its unique horns. But did you know there's also an insect with similar features? It’s called the rhinoceros beetle! This beetle is huge, powerful, and also has horns!
There are many types of rhinoceros beetles, but the strongest one is the Hercules rhinoceros beetle. It can lift things that are 850 times its own weight! That’s like you lifting 850 people your size! Because of this incredible strength, the Hercules beetle is considered the strongest animal on Earth. When you compare it to its size, it’s even stronger than bears, lions, or elephants!
Male rhinoceros beetles are the ones with two horns, and they look a bit like rhinos. One horn is on their head, and the other comes from their thorax, which is the part between their head and abdomen. Female beetles, however, don’t have any horns. Male beetles even engage in battles! They lock horns and try to push each other around or even flip each other over. When they’re not fighting, they use their horns to dig through leaves to find food.
Many male rhinoceros beetles are over 2½ inches long, and some Hercules beetles can be more than 6 inches long! Their size and scary look help them stay safe from predators. If they feel threatened, they make a hissing or squeaking sound. Interestingly, they don’t use their mouths to make these noises; they actually rub their wings against their abdomen!
During the day, these giant beetles hide under logs and plants, but at night they come out to search for food. They love to eat plant sap, nectar, fruit, and decaying plants. Rhinoceros beetles are found on every continent except Antarctica. The biggest species, like the Hercules beetle and the elephant beetle, live in warm, tropical areas, while some smaller types, like the unicorn beetle and Grant’s beetle, can be found in the United States. Like other insects, rhinoceros beetles have wings, and even though they are large, they can fly surprisingly well!
Even though they might look a little scary, rhinoceros beetles are harmless to humans. They don’t sting or bite, and some people even keep them as pets!