Name this beetle
We found a remarkable beetle in our back yard and was hoping that you could help us identify exactly what type it is. We believe it to be some type of Rhinoceros Beetle. It is 2.5 inches in length and over an inch wide. We have taken several pictures and have attached two to this email. We found the beetle in our Maryland yard already dead. He had some tent worm silk covering his head, which may have contributed to his demise.
Bugguide states: “Some females are nearly black”, but it says nothing about dark coloration in the male Hercules Beetle, Dynastes tityus. We have gotten written reports of these beetles changing colors (see below).
Amazing Technicolored Dynastes tityus
(08/11/2006)
I know, I know, you are swarmed with questions. But I just can’t find any answers or others who want to answer! I found a Dynastes titus. I identified it with the help of your site, thank you! I then read on other www’s how they are easy to keep as pets. I followed some pet advice, and he has an aquarium set up that I think most Rhino bugs would give their bottom horn for. However, today, he was not looking his usual coloring, which is a creamy olive with black spots. He was COMPLETLY black. Still very lively, and eating a piece of fresh pineapple soaked in maple syrup. I took him outside and put him on the ground, and he changed back to creamy olive with black spots right in front of my eyes! I had no idea that insects were capable of this sort of transformation. I made a makeshift box for him, and placed it outside for a little while. When I checked on him again, he was half under a bit of bark, and he was 1/2 black, under the bark, and 1/2 olive-y in the sun. My question is, Does he need to be the olive color? Is it a sign of some kind of deficiency? I’ve had him for three weeks, and he’s not done this before now. I am unable to find anything on the Internet about this, even on the web pages describing how to keep him as a pet.
Elizabeth Hager
Fayetteville, Arkansas
P.S. No pictures, because my camera is in the shop. If you are not too swarmed, I will send you some as soon as I get it back. He (no name yet) is beautiful.
Hi Elizabeth,
We know that these beetles are sometimes a mahogony color, but we are not sure what causes the changes. Our best advice is to inquire from sites that advocate raising these beetles. We don’t think the color change is indicative of poor health.
(08/12/2006)
Thank you. The beetle died this morning. He still changes color even though he is no more. I think it is a temp thing.
Update from Eric Eaton: “The key here is that it was dead. Large beetles are well known for turning black after death due to becoming saturated with grease as their fatty bodies decompose. Not a pretty answer, I know, but the correct explanation:-) I have some specimens of my own to which this has happened, sometimes on only the half of the insect through which the pin passes. I can’t comment on the color-changing phenomenon the one person documents. You should contact Brett Ratcliffe at Scarab Central, the entomology department at the U. of Nebraska, Lincoln. Eric”
Update (08/23/2006) Technicolored Dynastes tityus
I just read the “Amazing Technicolored Dynastes tityus” and had something to add. Both D. tityus and D. granti, and apparently the other species in the genus, will change color due to moisture fluctuations. Whenever I remove an adult from it’s substrate it will appear very dark but will return to it’s normal coloration after a minute or so. I imagine this would be a nice camouflaging technique because a bright green beetle walking through moist leaf litter would stand out. This change is normal and is not due to temperature or any nutritional deficiencies. I have seen preserved specimens retain this darker coloration regardless of the humidity levels but Elizabeth’s beetle was changing back, which makes me think it was humidity. I found two links that mention this subject: http://bugguide.net/node/view/11562 and
http://www.unl.edu/museum/research/entomology/Guide/Scarabaeoidea/Scarabaeidae/Dynastinae/Dynastinae-Tribes/Dynastini/Dynastes/D-hercules/Dhercules.html
Best Regards,
Steven
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