Male Grants' Rhinoceros Beetle or Dynastes granti

Grants' Rhinoceros Beetle males have "rhinoceros horns" protruding from their heads. Grants' Rhinoceros Beetle have distinct spots on their elytra that are different between all individuals; no two are ever exactly alike. Grants' Rhinoceros Beetle is the longest of the USA rhinoceros beetles with the record specimen at 85mm (3.25 inches)! The Grant's Rhinoceros Beetle is usually found only in Arizona though there have been reports of sightings as far east as New Mexico. It is very rare to see one in its natural habitat.

It is a large beetle with a heavy build. Females resemble big spotted June beetles and lack the horns while the males look much more exotic and possess a horn on both the pronotum and head. The horns of the male are used in fighting over females and food. This species moves surprisingly fast, they are also incredibly good fliers.

In the wild, Grants' Rhinoceros Beetles can usually be found out at night feeding on tree sap. They do so by rubbing the softer parts of branches of hard woods, such as Ash. The rubbing motion causes liquids to flow from the injuries to the branches, allowing the beetle to feed. This very difficult to duplicate in captivity, but this species will feed easily on peeled, juicy fruits. They like fruits such as cantaloupes, pears, bananas, watermelon, and apples. They will also feed on watered-down maple syrup placed in a shallow dish with paper towels. The maple syrup diet more closely resembles their natural diet and may be better for their overall well-being.