These Elephant Beetles can Grow Up to 13 Centimeters!

Capable of growing up to 13 centimeters, these large beetles are known as Elephant Beetles and recently arrived at Butterfly Pavilion for you to come see them on display! Common among males in this species, these tiny giants will use their large horns to fight over females and feeding sites such as trees and crops. With a diet consisting of bark, sap, and fruit, the small hairs that cover their bodies help them pollinate as they transfer pollen among plants. To learn more about beetles as pollinators, visit Butterfly Pavilion this June during Pollinator Palooza, or attend our Pollinator Palooza Festival on June 29th! Visit butterflies.org/pollinator-palooza/ to purchase tickets now!
Beetles and other insects are shipped in containers like those shown in this video for safety reasons. During transport, our beetles are at a higher risk of injury if they have too much space, as they can shift and damage their body parts. To minimize these risks, the insects remain in these containers for as short a time as possible and are taken out on the same day they arrive at Butterfly Pavilion. The enclosures shown in these videos are also temporary, serving as quarantine spaces for a few days before the insects are moved to their more permanent and expansive habitats.
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