Big bug No. 2

By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

Look out Wythe County residents: big bug number two has been reported.
After seeing the story in Tuesday’s Enterprise of Will Hostetler’s discovery of a rhinoceros beetle, Michael Davis realized his horned insect had a twin.
Davis, a town of Wytheville employee, was checking water meters near the intersection of Fourth and Pine streets last Friday. One meter wasn’t reading correctly and when Davis opened the meter box’s lid, he found the giant bug.
“I was kind of shocked about it,” he said.
Wednesday morning, Davis stopped by the Enterprise to exhibit his find.
Sure enough, the beetle was nearly identical to Will’s bug. Davis had done some research on the Internet and identified the insect as a Hercules beetle, a specific type of rhinoceros beetle.
The bug Davis found was already dead, but its body remained intact, including two large horns. Counting the horns, it, like Will’s beetle, appeared to be nearly 3 inches long.
Davis said his 3-year-old son, Cody, is fascinated by bugs and got a thrill out of seeing the big beetle.
“He liked it,” Davis said. “He wants to put it on a shelf in his room.”
Davis added that he plans to coat the beetle with a clear lacquer to preserve the unique find.
Although rhinoceros beetles appear menacing with their large horns, they are harmless as they do not bite or sting. They are, however, known as the “world’s strongest animal” for their ability to carry items up to 850 times their own weight.
Nate Hubbard can be reached at 228-6611 or .