Other Common Names
Grants' Rhinoceros Beetle, Western Hercules Beetle
Explanation of Names
Species described in 1870 by
George Henry Horn (1840-1897).
Patronym surely recognizes
Ulysses S. Grant (1822 – 1885), an American general and the 18th President of the United States (1869–1877).
Numbers
Six species of Dynastes are found in the New World, three of which are found in the U.S. and northern Mexico.
Dynastes granti Horn, 1870 - AZ, NM, UT, Mexico (Chihuahua)
Dynastes tityus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Eastern North America
Dynastes hyllus Chevrolat, 1843 - Occurs as far north as Tamaulipas, Mexico
Size
males, including horn, 50-85 mm length
Identification
Distinctive in its Southwestern range.
Range
Southwestern United States: Arizona, western New Mexico, southern Utah and northern Mexico (Chihuahua).
Season
Adults found from mid-August to early November.
Food
Larvae are found in rotten wood.
(1)Remarks
Dynastes granti is the largest scarab in the western United States and is relatively common in Arizona.
See Also
Dynastes tityus - Eastern Hercules Beetle
Print References
Menke, A.S. & F.D. Parker. 1988. Adult feeding and distribution of Dynastes granti Horn (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Coleopterists Bulletin, 42(2): 161-164.
Internet References
Photos and Factsheet - University of Nebraska State Museum
Contributed by
Cotinis on 25 August, 2007 - 3:37am
Additional contributions by
Mike QuinnLast updated 28 February, 2009 - 8:09am
