Hercules beetles are found statewide in wooded areas but are most common in the Ozarks. For more on this brawny beetle, crawl over to mdc.mo.gov/field-guide.
Eastern Hercules Beetle
One Big Beetle!
Hercules beetles are Missouri’s biggest beetle. Adult males can grow up to 2½ inches long.
Extra Large Larvae
Baby Hercules beetles are called grubs. The 3-inch-long larvae chew through rotten logs and are often found in mulch and compost heaps.
Jumbo Jets
Despite their size, Hercules beetles are strong flyers. They’re attracted to lights at night, so search for them around porch lights.
Beetle Battles
Males use their rhinoceros-like horns to fight other males. The strongest, pushiest beetle gets more girlfriends.
Missouri’s Mightiest
A Hercules beetle can carry more than 100 times its weight. If you were that strong, you could easily pick up a pickup.
Also In This Issue
Nature abounds nearly everywhere — if you know how to look for it.
The Show-Me State doesn’t have sandy, cactus-filled deserts, but it does have rocky, sun-scorched sites where plants and animals must be tough to survive. These hot spots are called glades. And while glades indeed get toasty, the plants and animals that live there are super cool.
And More...
This Issue's Staff
Photographer – Noppadol Paothong
Photographer – David Stonner
Designer – Marci Porter
Art Director – Ben Nickelson
Editor – Matt Seek
Subscriptions – Marcia Hale
Magazine Manager – Stephanie Thurber