![]() ISSN 0010-065X.The Hercules beetle, Dynastes hercules, is the most famous and largest of the rhinoceros beetles. "Longevity of the Western Hercules beetle, Dynastes grantii Horn (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae)". ^ a b c d Krell, Frank-Thorsten Krell, Victoria H."Biologically inspired humidity sensor based on three-dimensional photonic crystals". ![]() ^ a b Kim, Jae Hyun Moon, Jun Hyuk Lee, Seung-Yop Park, Jungyul ()."Physiological colour change in the elytra of the Hercules beetle, Dynastes hercules". "Diffractive hygrochromic effect in the cuticle of the Hercules beetle Dynastes hercules". ^ a b c Rassart, M Colomer, J-F Tabarrant, T Vigneron, J P ().^ Generic Guide to New World Scarab Beetles."Parapatric genetic introgression and phenotypic assimilation: testing conditions for introgression between Hercules beetles ( Dynastes, Dynastinae)". It has also been noted that captive longevity is possible without a hibernation period. grantii, tend to have a shorter adult lifespan in the wild (two to four months), but in captivity they live for about the same amount of time as the eastern species. tityus, can live six to twenty-three months in captivity with a hibernation period. Adults of most species can live from two to ten months and some can even live one or two years. After the larval period, transformation into a pupa, and moulting, the beetle then emerges as an adult. Much of the life of the larva is spent tunneling through rotting wood. The larval stage of Dynastes hercules will last one to two years, with the larva growing up to 4.5 inches (11 cm) in length and weighing more than 100 g (3.5 oz). The intermediate species that bridges the "white Hercules" and the "giant Hercules" lineages is thought to be D. tityus is thought to be a sister taxon to the Central American "white Hercules" lineage. hyllus are believed to be sister species, while D. This has been observed in captivity, but it is unclear if wild beetles will engage in acts of hybridization. Unicorn beetle or Eastern Hercules beetleĮastern United States (New York and Florida west to Illinois and Texas) Īlthough there are numerous species under the genus Dynastes, some are able to produce viable offspring with one another. Northwestern South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela) Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua. Southern Mexico, Central and South America, Lesser Antilles Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah), northern Mexico Western Hercules beetle or Grants' Hercules beetle There are eight species currently recognized in the genus, not counting putative subspecies of D. Another theory has to do with thermoregulation in the sense that a black beetle heats up faster than yellow and then once they have warmed up theoretically there will be less moisture in the cuticle which leads to changing to a colour which does not heat as quickly so they won't overheat. Some hypotheses for why this colour change occurs at all are the ability to blend with surroundings depending on the time of day (black for nighttime and yellow for daytime) to best avoid their main predator, the tropical screech owl ( Megascops choliba). Since the change is due to humidity it is a reversible process, however, it has been observed that after multiple colour changes or high stress the beetles will maintain some dark spots on their cuticle. ![]() What is known is that changes in humidity affect the levels of moisture in the cuticle which leads to a change in colour in most cases. Female beetles can change colour but not as completely as males, which is not yet explained as the mechanisms for the colour change is still not completely understood. This system is known as a hygrochromic effect. This is due to the change in refraction index allowing us to see the difference in colours. When the cuticle is filled with gas this layer can show through, presenting the yellow to khaki green colour, but when filled with fluid the cuticle appears black. This variation in colour is due to a spongy layer below the transparent cuticle this spongy layer is a network of filamentous strands made up of three-dimensional photonic crystals lying parallel to the cuticle surface. Specific species have been noted to occur with either black or yellowish to khaki green elytra. Certain species of the genus Dynastes also have the ability to change colour. Some species have an iridescent colouration to their elytra. Males of Dynastes bear two long horns, one on the head, and the other on the pronotum, forming a "plier" the pronotal horn has reddish setae on its underside. Dynastes head and prothorax showing the pliers
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