The Hercules beetle is the largest of the rhinoceros beetles, reaching a length of up to almost seven inches. This one seemed to be close to that. Females are actually larger bodied than the males, but they don’t have the horn, so are considerably shorter in length. And not only are they one of the largest beetles in the world — pound for pound, they also have the distinction of being the strongest animals in the world, able to lift as much as 850 times their own weight. This one was photographed in the cloud forest of Ecuador. Nikon D700 camera with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm), ISO 1600, f/8 (0.33 ev) at 1/40th of a second.
This shot is great! Love the way the depth of field seems like you’re moving forward, but it’s a crisp shot and very bright. I think this might actually be a Neptune beetle though.
Thanks Steve, I’ll have to post a side angle so you can see that it is clearly a Hercules beetle. The Neptune has two prongs extending from the face. Very similar creatures though.
Love the setting for this. Those huge wet green leaves give you a sense of the cloud forest. I have one of these incased in clear acrylic and it is exactly 7″. My husband received it has a gift on one of his business trip to south America. When my kids were young, I had to hide it because it spooked them. When they got older it became the coolest thing in the house. 🙂
sweet shot! lol, my Dad seriously found one of those in his backyard here in Michigan a few years back & we were all like, “What the?????” it was about 3 1/2″ long!
Thanks Amanda, yes, there is a subspecies called the Eastern Hercules beetle that ranges as far north as the midwest. So you either saw that or someone’s very odd pet that got away. The one pictured above only makes it as far north as southern Arizona.
Oh God – I would most likely faint if I came across this guy in the wild, and would most certainly faint if we were indoors. Though the beautiful dew-dropped leaf does make him seem just slightly less harmful. . .
Although the strongest creature in the world, this guy is harmless. And c’mon, you have to admit he is pretty cool looking. I think if you met face to face you would be friends.
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This shot is great! Love the way the depth of field seems like you’re moving forward, but it’s a crisp shot and very bright. I think this might actually be a Neptune beetle though.
Thanks Steve, I’ll have to post a side angle so you can see that it is clearly a Hercules beetle. The Neptune has two prongs extending from the face. Very similar creatures though.
Love the setting for this. Those huge wet green leaves give you a sense of the cloud forest. I have one of these incased in clear acrylic and it is exactly 7″. My husband received it has a gift on one of his business trip to south America. When my kids were young, I had to hide it because it spooked them. When they got older it became the coolest thing in the house. 🙂
sweet shot! lol, my Dad seriously found one of those in his backyard here in Michigan a few years back & we were all like, “What the?????” it was about 3 1/2″ long!
Thanks Amanda, yes, there is a subspecies called the Eastern Hercules beetle that ranges as far north as the midwest. So you either saw that or someone’s very odd pet that got away. The one pictured above only makes it as far north as southern Arizona.
Whoa
Oh God – I would most likely faint if I came across this guy in the wild, and would most certainly faint if we were indoors. Though the beautiful dew-dropped leaf does make him seem just slightly less harmful. . .
Although the strongest creature in the world, this guy is harmless. And c’mon, you have to admit he is pretty cool looking. I think if you met face to face you would be friends.