National Geographic Photographer & Filmmaker

African Insects

Rhinoceros beetles are herbivorous insects named for the horn-like projections on and around the heads of males. Most are black, gray, or greenish in color, and some are covered in soft hairs. Another name given to some of these insects is Hercules beetle, because they possess strength of a herculean proportion. Adults of some species can lift objects 850 times their weight! That would be equivalent to a human lifting 9 fully grown male elephants! One of the uses for extreme strength is for the beetles to dig themselves into leaf litter and soil to escape danger. Their horns also help them to do this.

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Filename: Rhinoceros beetle (Dynastinae) 001.jpg
Copyright: Shannon Wild
Image Size: 7360x4912 / 39.8MB; Africa Animal Animals beetle close up Dynastinae Entomology Fauna insect macro outdoors outside Photo Workshop Photography Safari Photography Workshop profile rhino rhino beetle Rhinoceros Safari Shannon Benson Shannon Wild side view South Africa Wild Wild Spirit Photo Wildlife
Contained in galleries: AFRICAN ARCHIVE, WILDLIFE ARCHIVE

Rhinoceros beetles are herbivorous insects named for the horn-like projections on and around the heads of males. Most are black, gray, or greenish in color, and some are covered in soft hairs. Another name given to some of these insects is Hercules beetle, because they possess strength of a herculean proportion. Adults of some species can lift objects 850 times their weight! That would be equivalent to a human lifting 9 fully grown male elephants! One of the uses for extreme strength is for the beetles to dig themselves into leaf litter and soil to escape danger. Their horns also help them to do this.