Titan Beetle

Rainforests of the Amazon basin in South America

Adults do not eat and survive solely on energy stored from the larval stage; larvae likely feed on decaying wood underground.

Nocturnal and attracted to lights. When threatened, they can emit a hissing sound and use their powerful mandibles to bite.

Harmless to humans unless handled improperly, where their strong jaws can inflict a painful bite. As decomposers in the larval stage, they contribute to nutrient cycling in rainforest ecosystems.