WHAT IS A HERCULES BEETLE?
Like all beetles, Hercules Beetles have chewing mouthparts and hardened front wings (elytra). Hercules beetles are in the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae), which also includes Japanese Beetles, June Beetles, and Dung Beetles. Female Eastern Hercules Beetle (B. Wallin, 2003) The only Hercules beetle species in Kentucky is the Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes tityus, which is the largest beetle in this part of the country. Adult Eastern Hercules Beetles typically have green, gray, or tan elytra mottled with black spots (rare individuals lack spots). Click here for a picture showing color variation among adult Hercules beetles. Adult male beetles have 2 large horns: 1 on the head and 1 on the thorax. They also have 2 small horns located next to the large thorax horn. Females lack horns.
