'Alien-Like' Hercules Beetle Wriggles While Inside Pupa Before It Prepares to Emerge as Fully Grown Insect

"Like something right out of Aliens" - the footage is remarkable and shows someone holding the huge creature while it wriggles"

A Hercules beetle was captured on camera moving and squirming inside its pupa as it prepares to emerge as a fully grown insect.

The Hercules Beetle is in the pupa stage (Photo: Facebook/Hirofumi Kawano)

Described as "like something right out of Aliens" the creature can be seen moving around in the bizarre footage, as it prepares to break free.

Hercules beetles are a form of rhinoceros beetle that can reach more than 17cm long. They transform larvae to a pupa stage - as seen in the video - before they moult and the beetle emerges as an adult.

The footage was shared online by Ziya Tong, the host of a TV nature programme in Canada called Daily Planet.

It squirms around in the bizarre footage (Photo: Facebook/Hirofumi Kawano)

Ziya added the caption: "Woah. This is the pupa of a Hercules beetle.

"Like something right out of Aliens.

"And...it moves!"

Ziya, also shared a blog post from a writer who said the Hercules beetle was one of her favourite creatures.

The Epic Creature of the Month blog says: "The lifecycle of the Hercules beetle is not unusual for an insect but is longer than most.

"Once hatched from its egg, the larva spends up to two years tunneling/eating rotting wood; the larva looks like a large white caterpillar.

"Once they have stored enough energy they will turn into a hard shell and morph into the beetle, when the beetle is ready to come out they will moult (shed) their shell and emerge an adult.

"As adults they will roam the forest floor for decaying fruit, mate and fight; that's not a bad life if you ask me.

Hercules beetles are related to rhinoceros beetles (Photo: Facebook/Hirofumi Kawano)

"With its size, horns, strength, special body slam and longevity no wonder it is so famous.

"These same reasons are why I am deeming this creature epic!"

SOURCE: Mirror.co.uk

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