A beetle so strong, it's named after the strongest man on earth!
What: The hercules beetle is believed to be the strongest beetle on the planet!
Who: Another Herculean achievement! The hercules beetle's name isn't only mythological, it's also scientific! Dynastes hercules is what scientists scientifically call the commonly named, hercules beetle.
When: When do hercules beetles use the huge horn on their heads? They use it to attack and hide! Learn more how the hercules beetle uses its horn to survive in The Screaming Hairy Armadillo!
Where: The hercules beetle lives in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America on the other side of the planet from where the mythological Hercules lived out his legend.
How: How strong are the hercules beetles? Hercules beetles are strong enough to throw objects 850 times their own weight!
Why: With a horn like that, why is the hercules beetle not called the rhinoceros beetle? It is! What new name would you give the hercules/rhinoceros beetle?
Huh?: What if moths and butterflies aren't the only animals that make and use cocoons? During their development the hercules beetle pass through a larva stage on their way be becoming a fully realized beetle--speaking of "passing through," hercules beetles don't spin silk for the pupa chambers in their cocoons like moths do; they use their own poo!
Wow!: Wait... let's dig deeper into that whole thing about hercules beetles being able to throw around 850 times their own weight: if you had "hercules beetle strength" you would be able to lift nine elephants!
Keep getting curious about animals with The Screaming Hairy Armadillo and it's free Educator's Guide!
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