Rhinoceros Beetle

Distribution: Every continent except Antarctica Size: Up to 18 cm, with an average length of approximately 10 cm Life expectancy: Around 2 years Diet: Herbivorous Number of eggs: Up to 50 eggs IUCN red list status: No Status The rhinoceros beetle (subfamily *Dynastinae* within the family *Scarabaidae*) includes around 300 different species. The name "rhinoceros" comes from the horn-like structure on the heads of males, which they use in fights for females and feeding sites. Females, in contrast, have a small tubercle in place of the male's horn. These "horns" do not inflict injuries but are used to push rivals away from disputed territory. Rhinoceros beetles are typically grayish, black, or greenish in color, and some species have small, soft, hair-like structures on their bodies. Remarkably strong, adults of certain species are documented to lift objects 850 times their own weight. Rhinoceros beetles spend a significant portion of their lives in the larval stage. While most species live around two years, some, such as those in the *Megasoma* genus, can spend up to four years as larvae. To protect themselves from predators, these beetles rely on their large size and nocturnal habits. When threatened, they produce a hissing sound by rubbing their abdomen and wing covers together. One of the primary threats to rhinoceros beetles is capture for the pet trade.