Bug Identifier
Hercules beetle (likely female)
Community identification

Hercules beetle (likely female)

Dynastes hercules

Order & Family
Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae (Dynastinae)
Size
Adults commonly measure 5–8 cm (2–3.2 in); males can exceed 15 cm including horns, while females lack prominent horns.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Tropical forests of Central and South America and the Caribbean, especially humid lowland woodland. Adults are often attracted to lights at night.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on decaying wood and leaf litter. Adults mainly consume fruit, tree sap, and juices from ripe or fermenting vegetation.

Behavior Patterns

Primarily nocturnal; adults fly to lights and use their horns for male contests over mates or feeding sites. Larvae develop in rotting logs over many months to years before pupating.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to people, though adults may pinch if handled. Larvae help decompose wood and recycle nutrients; this identification is tentative because the image could also show a related rhinoceros beetle.