Eastern Hercules Beetle, Vol. 10, No. 15
Dynastes tityus
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Back in 1970 the newspaper in Magee, MS ran a photo of a big, strange-looking beetle. Mr. H. P. Ates found it sitting on the gas can when he went to mow his yard and brought it to the paper. They photographed it and ran the picture, along with a request for anyone who knew what the thing was to contact the paper. Momma saw the article and suggested they might let me have the beetle for my 4-H insect collection if I identified it for them. So, the next time I got to town I went by the newspaper office. To a young bug nerd, Eastern Hercules beetles are the T. rexs of the insect world, and I was eager to see one.
It was not easy for a 15-year-old boy to convince the receptionist to let me see the editor, but she finally let me through. It was much easier to convince the editor that the identification was correct, because I had Dr. Lutz’s book, with a labeled drawing—Eastern Hercules Beetle. Mrs. Mamie Walker, who worked at the library, had given me this book because she knew of my interest in insects. The editor let me have the beetle and ran a follow-up story about the nerdy 4-H kid who identified their mystery bug.
About a year later another large mystery bug was brought to the newspaper office, and the editor called me to see if I could identify it. This was a giant water bug: Bug's Eye View Vol. 10, No. 8.
Given that my entomological career began with an article about Eastern Hercules beetles, it seems appropriate to end it that way as well. Perhaps doubly appropriate, because the first issue of Bug’s Eye View was also about these beetles: Bug's Eye View No. 1, Vol. 1.
This is the final issue of Bug’s Eye View. It’s time to retire. Thanks for your interest in, and support for, Bug’s Eye View through the years! Thanks to the 4-H Entomology program as well, for providing a career path that has been so interesting and enjoyable.
Archived issues of Bug’s Eye View are available on the Bug's Eye View Website.
Bug's Eye View on Facebook will continue to run selected past issues of Bug’s Eye View until the end of the season.
Blake Layton, Extension Entomology Specialist, Mississippi State University Extension Service.
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