Watch a Hercules Beetle Metamorphose Before Your Eyes | Nat Geo Wild

Watch this beetle go from larvae to giant. The Hercules beetle is one of the largest flying insects in the world.

#NatGeoWILD #HerculesBeetle #Metamorphosis

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As grubs they are impressively large. As beetle expert Brett Ratcliffe puts it, they “are basically the size of a Polish sausage.” Hercules beetles also go through metamorphosis, like a butterfly. Except, a butterfly spins a cocoon out of silk. The beetle builds a pupal chamber out of its own feces and, in it, transforms. As an adult, male Hercules beetles can stretch up to seven inches long including their horns.

Watch a Hercules Beetle Metamorphose Before Your Eyes | Nat Geo Wild

Nat Geo Wild

[NatGeoWild]

An adult male Hercules beetle can stretch up to seven inches long. What are your thoughts on seeing the stages of their metamorphosis?

[static]

"Everything is fine until it flies."

[SolidRazo]

Bear grylls would say “that’s packed full of nutrition”

[_simon.s_]

That horn looks so smooth, it's like it was polished.

[MotivationalThemes]

Honestly, the last stage of the beetle's metamorphosis was a definite glow up

[dasilvadouglas]

Whoever is holding Hercules, is the bravest person ever. Thanks for sharing!

[pnkflyd]

I would instantly shed my skin if that thing landed on me.

[johnsmall]

They close their mouths when they fly so they don't swallow a bicyclist.

[daringlavan]

My 4 year old, "it looks like it has a puppy face!"

Not sure if I should be proud of her for being fearless or get her an eye exam😅

[wyattrook]

The fact that they compared it to the size of a "polish Sausage" is enough for me

[Warpathx]

"What? Your Pokémon is evolving!"

[BiggusWeeabus]

"Congratulations! Your Larvae evolved into Heracross"

[zizimugen]

It’s amazing how ferocious some insects look, contrasted by how docile they are.

[pacfic]

You fools... this isn’t even my final form!

[thine.]

"the Hercules beetle is one of the largest *FLYING INSECTS* in the world"

🙂🔫

[ipolarisi]

If I ever see one of them flying around I will die instantly

[AM-eliv]

As a kid I loved turning up stones, and digging the ground looking for all kinds of critters. For many years I had no idea what grubs like this were. I was very surprised to learn that they were a stage of beetle's life cycle. To see the actual metamorphosis is just great.

[LoverGirl.-]

Congrats to the person who was willing to hold it in the vid cuz I would scream in horror to hold it

[gabrielnagy]

"Male Hercules beetles can stretch up to seven inches"

I wish I could do that as well.

[MurphySullivan]

I am so disgusted and fascinated at the same time.

Did anyone else get this random recommendation?