Hercules beetle (likely female)

Tropical and subtropical forests of Central and northern South America and some Caribbean islands, especially humid forest floors and decaying logs.

Larvae feed on decaying wood and organic plant matter. Adults mainly consume fruit, sap, and other sugary plant fluids.

Mostly nocturnal and attracted to lights; adults fly seasonally, while larvae develop for many months to years in rotting wood. Males use their horns in contests, whereas females are hornless.

Harmless to people and not venomous; its spiny legs can grip or scratch if handled. Larvae help decompose wood and recycle nutrients, and adults contribute modestly to forest food webs and pollination.