Dynastes neptunus

{{Short description|Species of insect}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Dynastes neptunus.jpg

| image_caption = Male (left) and female

| taxon = Dynastes neptunus

| authority = Quensel, 1805

}}

Dynastes neptunus is a beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.{{Cite web |title=Dynastes neptunus - Care Sheet |url=https://richardsinverts.com/care-sheet-dynastes-neptunus/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Richard's Inverts |language=en-GB}} D. neptunus is very similar to the Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) but differs from it in slightly larger size and more of a slender and curved horns.{{Cite web |title=Family Scarabaeidae - Dynastes neptunus |url=http://www.naturalworlds.org/scarabaeidae/species/Dynastes_neptunus.htm |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=www.naturalworlds.org}}

Description

D. neptunus is {{convert|12|to|15.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} long{{Cite web |title=Dynastes neptunus - Zhao Li |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/dynastes-neptunus-zhao-li/rAEfZievvHjosw |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Google Arts & Culture |language=en}} with a black body. Sexual dimorphism is present in the species; for example, males having large horns on their heads and are much smoother than females. This species is similar to the hercules beetle but is larger and has slender, curved horns.

Distribution

This species lives in the northwestern regions of South America in the countries of Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela.{{Cite web |title=Generic Guide to New World Scarab Beetles-Scarabaeidae-Dynastinae-Dynastini-Dynastes |url=https://unsm-ento.unl.edu/Guide/Scarabaeoidea/Scarabaeidae/Dynastinae/Dynastinae-Tribes/Dynastini/Dynastes/D-neptunus/Dneptunus.html |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=unsm-ento.unl.edu}}

Diet

File:Dynastes neptunus 003.jpg

Larvae feed on decaying, rotten wood and adults will eat fruit.

References

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Category:Scarabaeidae

Category:Beetles described in 1805

Category:Beetles of South America

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