Dynastes neptunus

Dynastes neptunus
Male (left) and female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Genus: Dynastes
Species:
D. neptunus
Binomial name
Dynastes neptunus
Quensel, 1805

Dynastes neptunus is a beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.[1] D. neptunus is very similar to the Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) but differs from it in slightly larger size and more of a slender and curved horns.[2]

Description

D. neptunus is 12 to 15.5 cm (4.7 to 6.1 inches) long[3] with a black body. Sexual dimorphism is present in the species; for example, males having large ''horns'' on their heads and are much smoother than females. This species is similar to the hercules beetle but is larger and has slender, curved horns.[2]

Distribution

This species lives in the northwestern regions of South America in the countries of Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela.[4]

Diet

Close-up of the male head

Larvae feed on decaying, rotten wood and adults will eat fruit.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Dynastes neptunus - Care Sheet". Richard's Inverts. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  2. ^ a b "Family Scarabaeidae - Dynastes neptunus". www.naturalworlds.org. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  3. ^ "Dynastes neptunus - Zhao Li". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  4. ^ a b "Generic Guide to New World Scarab Beetles-Scarabaeidae-Dynastinae-Dynastini-Dynastes". unsm-ento.unl.edu. Retrieved 2023-06-02.


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