The Hercules beetle can lift up to 850 times its own weight! Dynastes hercules is known for its strength and is named after Hercules, a hero of classical mythology, famed for his great strength. It is one of the largest flying insects in the world and is native to the rainforests of Central and South America. It has a huge horn curving down from its back and another curving up from its head. A male Hercules beetle may reach up to 7 inches in length (including the horn), making it the longest species of beetle in the world.
The light interferes with the structure to produce the green colour of the shell. When water penetrates through the widely-open porous layers, it destroys the interferences phenomenon leading to a black colouration.
The researchers used dry specimen of the beetle’s shell to test in laboratory conditions.
The beetle, usually found in the rainforests of Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil, is still rather mysterious though. As although dry specimen of the shell could be relied on to change when humid conditions were introduced, the living specie that researchers also had in the lab were not as consistent.
Picture Credit : Google