Hercules beetle Coloring Pages

The Biggest Beetle in the World! The Hercules beetle!

The Hercules beetle is the biggest beetle in the whole world. The males have long, amazing horns. Sometimes, their horns are as long as their whole body. They are usually about 14 to 15 centimeters big, but some Hercules beetle can grow up to 18 centimeters! They are named after "Hercules," a powerful hero from Greek myths, because they are so strong and cool.

Where Do They Live?

The Hercules beetle lives in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. You can find a lot of them in countries like Colombia, Brazil, and Ecuador. They live in hot, rainy jungle places and come out at night.

What Do They Eat?

The Hercules beetle mostly drinks tree sap. They find tree trunks where sap leaks out. Then, they use the brush-like hairs near their mouth to drink the tasty sap.

The Secret of Their Big Horns!

The Hercules beetle uses its big horns when males fight each other. They use them to flip their opponent over when they fight for a female. The tip of the horn has jagged bumps so it can get a good grip on the other beetle. Also, the chest horn (the top horn) has orange hair that looks like a brush. This stops enemies from slipping away when pinched by the horn!

How They Grow Up!

Just like other beetles you know, the Hercules beetle hatches from an egg, becomes a larva, turns into a pupa, and then grows into a grand adult. They spend a very long time as a larva, taking about 2 years to grow big. Once they become adults, they live for about 6 months to a year.

Do the Hercules beetle Wings Change Color?

The hard top wings of the Hercules beetle look yellow or yellow-brown in dry places. But when it rains and gets humid, their wings change to black! Moisture goes in and out of tiny holes on the surface of their wings, and that changes their color. Bugs that change color like this are very rare!

What Is the Hercules beetle Name?

The Hercules beetle is written as "Hercules beetle" in English. Its scientific name (its official animal name) is "Dynastes hercules." "Hercules" comes from the strongest hero in Greek myths. It is the perfect name for such a powerful beetle!

How to Choose Colors

The Hercules beetle has a different color for its body and horns! Look at real ones for ideas, and make yours look cool!

• Body (chest part) and horns: Color them black or dark brown to make a strong and cool Hercules beetle. You can layer a slightly brighter color to give it a shiny look, too!
• Wings (back part): The wings of a Hercules beetle are yellow, ochre, or yellowish brown. When it gets humid, they change to black, so color them any color you like!
• Legs and antennae: Color them black or dark brown to match the body and horns.
• Eyes: Color them nicely with black.

Make It Look Powerful!

On this Hercules beetle coloring page, you can see lines for highlights and big muscles. Use these clues to make it look super strong!

• If you use colored pencils: Press lightly to color softly on bright spots, like the tips of the horns or the edges of the wings. You can also layer a bright color to make it look 3D! Coloring the bumpy parts of the horns dark will make them look extra strong!
• If you use crayons: Layer your colors just a little bit to give it a shiny look!

How to Make It 3D: Think About "Shadows" and "Lights"!

Try using a darker color for shady spots, like dips on the body, under the horns, or where the legs meet the body. This makes your Hercules beetle look 3D! For example:

• Under the horns, and where the horns start
• Under the legs, and where the legs meet the body
• Between the belly and the wings, and in the dips on the body

Color the Background!

• Leaves and trees: The Hercules beetle lives in the jungle! Add leaves using lots of different greens. Mix brown, gray, and green for the tree trunk to make it look real!
• Tree sap: Draw tree sap around your Hercules beetle using brown and orange!

Tips for Coloring Fun!

You do not have to stick to real colors. Color it any way you want! Think, "It would be fun if a Hercules beetle looked like this!" For example, a gold or silver Hercules beetle would be super cool, too!