In the handsome engraving herewith are shown the male and female of
the Hercules beetle (_Dynastes hercules_) of Brazil. The family of
the _Dynastidæ_ comprises some of the largest and most beautiful of
the beetle race, and all of them are remarkable for enormous
developments of the thorax and head. They are all large bodied and
stout limbed, and by their great strength abundantly justify their
generic name, _Dynastes_, which is from the Greek and signifies
powerful. The larvæ of these beetles inhabit and feed upon decaying
trees and other rotting vegetable matter, and correspond in size
with the mature insects. Most of them inhabit tropical regions,
where they perform a valuable service in hastening the destruction
of dead or fallen timber.
An admirable example of this family of beetles is the one here
represented. In the male of the Hercules beetle the upper part of
the thorax is prolonged into a single, downward curving horn fully
three inches long, the entire length of the insect being about six
inches. The head is prolonged into a similar horn, which curves
upward, giving the head and thorax the appearance of two enormous
jaws, resembling the claw of a lobster. The real jaws of the insect
are underneath the lower horn, which projects from the forepart of
the head. The under surface of the thorax-horn carries a ridge of
stiff, short, golden-yellow hairs, and the under surface and edges
of the abdomen are similarly ornamented.
The head, thorax, and legs are shining black; the elytra, or
wing-covers, are olive-green, dotted with black spots, and are much
wrinkled. The wings are large and powerful.
[Illustration: THE HERCULES BEETLE]
The female Hercules is quite unlike the male. It is much smaller,
being not more than three and a half inches long, is without horns,
and is covered with a brown hairy felt.
These beetles are nocturnal in habit, and are rarely seen in the
daytime, except in dark hiding places in the recesses of Brazilian
forests.
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