Eastern Hercules Beetle

Hardwood forests and wooded areas across the eastern and southeastern United States.

Adults feed on decaying fruit, tree sap, and rotting wood. Larvae feed on decaying wood, especially rotting stumps and logs.

Nocturnal and often attracted to artificial lights at night. Males use their prominent thoracic and head horns to joust with other males over mates. Larvae undergo a long development period, often taking 1 to 2 years to mature inside decaying wood.

Harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting, though their tarsal claws can pinch slightly for grip. Highly beneficial nutrient recyclers that aid in decomposing dead wood and organic matter in forest ecosystems.