The western Hercules beetle (Dynastes grantii, often misspelled as "granti") is a species of rhinoceros beetle that lives in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah in the United States and in parts of northern Mexico.[1][2] This species is known for its grayish-white elytra, large size, and characteristic horn of the adult males.
Adult body sizes of both sexes vary from 3.5 to 6.0 cm (1.4–2.4 in) (apex of elytra to apex of thoracic horn), with captive-reared individuals reaching up to 8.0 cm (3.1 in)[2] Coloration of the elytra varies from white to grayish-white, often with irregular black spots of various size and number. At high humidity levels, the elytra may appear black.[2]
Dynastes grantii is sexually dimorphic, with the females lacking the characteristic horns of the male.
Life cycleedit
Like other Hercules beetle species, Dynastes grantii undergoes a six-stage life cycle from egg to adult, with three larval instars and a single pupal stage. The time from egg to pupal eclosion is estimated to take approximately two years. The pupal stage lasts about 30 days.[3] Adults emerge from the pupal chamber between the months of August through October and typically live between two and four months in the wild. In captivity, the adults may live up to nine months.[4][1] After mating the female oviposits over 100 eggs.[3]
Distribution and habitatedit
Populations of Dynastes grantii may be found in southern Utah, Arizona, western New Mexico of the United States, and parts of Northern Mexico.[1][2] This species typically inhabits highland forest habitats, at or above 1,600 m (5,200 ft) above sea level.[2]
Feeding habitsedit
Adults have been documented feeding on the cambium of ash trees. The beetles strip the bark from small branches and feed on the sap produced by the exposed cambium.[1]
Similar speciesedit
Dynastes grantii belongs to the White Hercules beetle lineage which includes five allopatrically distributed North American and Central American taxa, including Dynastes hyllus, Dynastes maya, Dynastes moroni, and Dynastes tityus.[2] Despite differences in geographic origin and morphology, namely horn length and coloration of the elytra, Dynastes tityus and Dynastes grantii are very similar and it is possible for the two species to produce hybrids.[1] Some scientists believe that the two beetles are actually subspecies given the similarities of the male genitalia.[1][5]
Dynastes grantii is very similar morphologically to Dynastes hyllus, with differentiation between species often only possible through examination of geographic origin.[2]
Distinction from D. hyllusedit
The body coloration of Dynastes hyllus is typically yellowish to brownish where it is white to grayish-white in Dynastes grantii. The significant protrusion forward of the bottom tooth at the base of the thoracic horn in males of Dynastes hyllus is also a distinguishing factor between the two species. While Dynastes hyllus can be distinguished morphologically from Dynastes grantii, geographic origin is generally the strongest factor in correct identification.[2]
A comparison between a male Dynastes grantii (left) and a male Dynastes hyllus (right)
^ abcdefMenke, Arnold S.; Parker, Frank D. (1988). "Adult feeding and distribution of Dynastes granti Horn (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)". The Coleopterists Bulletin. 42 (2): 161–164. ISSN 0010-065X. JSTOR 4008541.
^ abcdefghHuang, Jen-Pan (2016). "The species versus subspecies conundrum in the Hercules beetles (genus Dynastes) and its biogeographic and conservation implications". 2016 International Congress of Entomology. Entomological Society of America. doi:10.1603/ice.2016.109568.
^ ab(動物學), 賴廷奇 (2008). 沉醉兜鍬 = For the love of rhinoceros and stag beetles. Lai ting qi. ISBN978-957-41-5817-1. OCLC 862438489.
^Krell, Frank-Thorsten; Krell, Victoria H. I. (2015). "Longevity of the Western Hercules Beetle, Dynastes grantii Horn (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae)". The Coleopterists Bulletin. 69 (4): 760. doi:10.1649/0010-065X-69.4.760. ISSN 0010-065X. S2CID 85764498.
^"Hercules Beetles of Kentucky - University of Kentucky Entomology". www.uky.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
External linksedit
Data related to Dynastes grantii at Wikispecies
Media related to Dynastes grantii at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
dynastes, grantii, western, hercules, beetle, often, misspelled, granti, species, rhinoceros, beetle, that, lives, arizona, mexico, utah, united, states, parts, northern, mexico, this, species, known, grayish, white, elytra, large, size, characteristic, horn, . The western Hercules beetle Dynastes grantii often misspelled as granti is a species of rhinoceros beetle that lives in Arizona New Mexico and Utah in the United States and in parts of northern Mexico 1 2 This species is known for its grayish white elytra large size and characteristic horn of the adult males Western Hercules beetle Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Coleoptera Family Scarabaeidae Genus Dynastes Species D grantii Binomial name Dynastes grantiiHorn 1870 Contents 1 Description 2 Life cycle 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Feeding habits 5 Similar species 5 1 Distinction from D hyllus 6 Additional images 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksDescription editAdult body sizes of both sexes vary from 3 5 to 6 0 cm 1 4 2 4 in apex of elytra to apex of thoracic horn with captive reared individuals reaching up to 8 0 cm 3 1 in 2 Coloration of the elytra varies from white to grayish white often with irregular black spots of various size and number At high humidity levels the elytra may appear black 2 Dynastes grantii is sexually dimorphic with the females lacking the characteristic horns of the male Life cycle editLike other Hercules beetle species Dynastes grantii undergoes a six stage life cycle from egg to adult with three larval instars and a single pupal stage The time from egg to pupal eclosion is estimated to take approximately two years The pupal stage lasts about 30 days 3 Adults emerge from the pupal chamber between the months of August through October and typically live between two and four months in the wild In captivity the adults may live up to nine months 4 1 After mating the female oviposits over 100 eggs 3 Distribution and habitat editPopulations of Dynastes grantii may be found in southern Utah Arizona western New Mexico of the United States and parts of Northern Mexico 1 2 This species typically inhabits highland forest habitats at or above 1 600 m 5 200 ft above sea level 2 Feeding habits editAdults have been documented feeding on the cambium of ash trees The beetles strip the bark from small branches and feed on the sap produced by the exposed cambium 1 Similar species editDynastes grantii belongs to the White Hercules beetle lineage which includes five allopatrically distributed North American and Central American taxa including Dynastes hyllus Dynastes maya Dynastes moroni and Dynastes tityus 2 Despite differences in geographic origin and morphology namely horn length and coloration of the elytra Dynastes tityus and Dynastes grantii are very similar and it is possible for the two species to produce hybrids 1 Some scientists believe that the two beetles are actually subspecies given the similarities of the male genitalia 1 5 Dynastes grantii is very similar morphologically to Dynastes hyllus with differentiation between species often only possible through examination of geographic origin 2 Distinction from D hyllus edit The body coloration of Dynastes hyllus is typically yellowish to brownish where it is white to grayish white in Dynastes grantii The significant protrusion forward of the bottom tooth at the base of the thoracic horn in males of Dynastes hyllus is also a distinguishing factor between the two species While Dynastes hyllus can be distinguished morphologically from Dynastes grantii geographic origin is generally the strongest factor in correct identification 2 nbsp nbsp A comparison between a male Dynastes grantii left and a male Dynastes hyllus right Additional images edit nbsp Adult male nbsp Adult female nbsp Adult male nbsp Adult femaleSee also editDynastes tityusReferences edit a b c d e f Menke Arnold S Parker Frank D 1988 Adult feeding and distribution of Dynastes granti Horn Coleoptera Scarabaeidae The Coleopterists Bulletin 42 2 161 164 ISSN 0010 065X JSTOR 4008541 a b c d e f g h Huang Jen Pan 2016 The species versus subspecies conundrum in the Hercules beetles genus Dynastes and its biogeographic and conservation implications 2016 International Congress of Entomology Entomological Society of America doi 10 1603 ice 2016 109568 a b 動物學 賴廷奇 2008 沉醉兜鍬 For the love of rhinoceros and stag beetles Lai ting qi ISBN 978 957 41 5817 1 OCLC 862438489 Krell Frank Thorsten Krell Victoria H I 2015 Longevity of the Western Hercules Beetle Dynastes grantii Horn Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Dynastinae The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 4 760 doi 10 1649 0010 065X 69 4 760 ISSN 0010 065X S2CID 85764498 Hercules Beetles of Kentucky University of Kentucky Entomology www uky edu Retrieved 2021 03 16 External links edit nbsp Data related to Dynastes grantii at Wikispecies nbsp Media related to Dynastes grantii at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dynastes grantii amp oldid 1208547213, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
