Rhinoceros beetle

Rhinoceros Beetles are any of the species of beetles belonging to the taxonomic Subfamily Dynastinae. It is perhaps best known as one of the strongest animals in the world. They got their name because they have a Rhinoceros-like horn on the top of their head. They are nocturnal animals who are heavily protected and are rarely viewed upon as prey. They are common pets around the world because they are harmless, clean animals who are easy to take care of. They are fun and entertaining to watch when u get one in your hands.

Body Design
The Rhinoceros beetles are one of the largest beetles. They can grow up to six inches long and weigh up to four ounces. The males are well known because they can have horns almost as long as their bodies. Their horns are used for digging and to fight other males during mating season. Beetles have a very tough shell to protect themselves and their colors come in a variety of color. They sometimes even have fur! The length and size of the horns show how healthy the beetle is. Rhinoceros beetles are considered to be the strongest animal on earth, being able to carry 850 times its own weight! That is like a human carrying 9 fully grown elephants.

Life Cycle
In the life cycle of the rhinoceros beetle, complete metamorphosis occurs as it goes through the stages of the egg, larva, pupa, and adult. If there are several males in the environment, they will fight, and the victorious beetle will get to mate with the female. After mating, she will lay her white eggs that are called ova. She can lay up to 50 eggs at once and it takes 3-4 weeks for the eggs to hatch. When they hatch, the beetles are in their larvae stage, which is when they eat a lot and develop. They also molt three times and every period between the molting is called an instar. After 12-18 months, the beetle will enter their next stage of life...the pupa. This is when the beetle molts one last time and digs itself a hole and stay there for months without food. This stage can last up to 18 months. Once the beetle is done with this stage, they are adults. They will mate, and continue this life cycle.

Ecology
Rhinoceros beetles haven't really been considered pests but as their population have grown, they have damaged plants. The beetles don't have very many predators due to its heavy protection so their population is continuously growing. The predators that they have are pigs, rats, and ants. There are also two diseases that can kill them which are the Metarhizium anisopliae and the Oryctes virus. In some ways, the rhinoceros beetles help the environment. Their larvae eat things like compost and dead leaves which help recycle. Since they are nocturnal, they hide underground or inside plants during the day. At night they are attracted to and stick around lights. When in danger, the beetle will give out a squeak by rubbing its wings against its abdomen. Although it isn't very loud, that is all the noise it will ever make. Adult beetles are known to eat a variety of fruit. They make great pets in Asia because they don't hurt people and they are clean animals to take care of.

Video
Video about the Rhinoceros beetle =f8neGzNvpfg