Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Dynastinae
Length: 40-60 mm
Dynastes tityus is among the longest and heaviest beetles found in the United States.
On both males and females, the pattern of spots is unique to each individual, with no two beetles just the same.
The Hercules Beetle is found primarily in the southeastern states. In West Virginia it is present but not common. It sometimes shows up at lights. The beetles shown here were photographed in West Virginia in July, August, and September.
Left: This scrappy male bears the scars of battles with his rivals, with scratches on his back and a broken tip to his lower hornbut he is a survivor.
