Who are those strange-looking nosey fellows discussing the question of bananas? Why, of course, every naturalist knows them, they are the famous Hercules beetles (Dynastes hercules.) Many have marveled at their grotesque form, and there are few museums whose insect collections do not hold forever a number of these strange insects. Although they may be seen there, and bought in the dried state from many dealers, there are few who have had the chance to study them under natural conditions, where they are reared and where they live their blundering lives and where they die.
Such absurd things have been said of them, and of the uses of their lobster-like "claws," that it would seem that very few have visited the life haunts of these creatures. In Ober's excellent book. "Camps In The Caribbees," there is an amusing reference to the Hercules beetle. It states that the "claws" are used to saw off branches or twigs of certain trees. According to the natives that Ober interviewed, the beetle comes to a certain twig and there fastens its long pincers about the wood. It then spreads its powerful wings and commences to fly with great rapidity around the twig, finally sawing it off entirely at the desired spot!
Why such a procedure should be followed, the natives did not state and it is not likely that there is any truth in this strange explanation. Sap is undoubtedly the natural food of the beetles, which will come to wounded and bleeding trees of certain species. It happens that I am host to four Hercules beetles. I brought them all the way from Dominica, their home, through the chill of a very cold landing in New York, and to my own home. They are safe and sound at this writing and very much alive. I have found that in bringing home animals of all kinds, that it is better to keep them a little hungry than overloaded. Under such conditions they stand a much better chance of surviving.
Once established in their new home, they provided me with a problem, that of feeding. Ripe bananas solved the problem. At first this diet appeared strange to them and they would have none of it. In a few days, however, the pangs of hunger were too sharp and they tried the sweet fruit. One taste was all that they needed, and from then on there was no trouble with their menu. How they will eat! I feed them every three days, or, really every six days. It takes the four beetles three days to account for one banana. This feast is followed by three days without food, and then they are given another fruit. Although their table manners are not of the best and they smear themselves thoroughly and horribly during the repast, they come out of their gorge quite slick and clean, eating the particles that remain clinging to one another, just as puppies lick the milk from each others muzzles.
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