Written by As we near the end of our amazing #NatureDoodlewash hike we’ve come across this mighty Rhinoceros Beetle. Why so mighty? Well, this little guy can lift 850 times his own weight which would be the human equivalent of lifting around a 65 ton object. This amazing ability makes this guy one of the strongest animals on the planet! Though many are more what you’d imagine when it comes to beetle sizes, some can reach 6 inches (15.24cm) in length making them among the biggest, baddest beetles around.
When you come across one, you might hear hissing sounds, which makes them seem even more terrifying. They aren’t actually cussing you out, but instead rubbing their abdomen and wing covers together. The message is the same, though, and can be translated as “stay away from me you tall jerk!” Despite their heroic strength, it’s based on their body size which is still quite small so you’re in no real danger of them carrying you off into parts unknown. If you’ve been reading about these weird creatures here before you can already guess that the strange appendage in the front is used for mating. Wait, not the actual mating act itself, but as a weapon for males to drive other males away and get the girl.
This has been a fun hike this month! Thrilled to see all of your amazing doodlewashes and nature has never disappointed in the interesting things she has to offer. Tomorrow is the last day of our hike before heading into World Watercolor Month in July! (well if you’re in Australia and other awesome places then July starts tomorrow!) I hope all of you reading will be participating in the month by simply tagging all your watercolors in July with #WorldWatercolorMonth wherever you post them! I’m excited to see what everyone does and thrilled that so many of you have joined the World Watercolor Month Facebook Group and/or are accepting the full 31 day challenge! Let’s paint the world with watercolor in July!
Thanks for joining me throughout the month of June on a virtual nature hike and showing everyone what you love most in nature with a watercolor sketch or painting by tagging your images #NatureDoodlewash so we can all enjoy it with you! I’ll create a featured artist gallery of our global hike at the end of the month!
World Watercolor Month is coming in July! Click here to learn more!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Ultramarine Blue, Quinacridone Gold, Burnt Sienna, Azo Orange, Pyrrol Red, Gamboge and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal.
Excellent! What is it with beetles and appendages for beating on their competition? Nature. Another love triangle to avoid. Lol 🙂
Haha! Soooo true!! Thanks Susan!! 😃💕
that’s a creepy dude, but you rocked it Charlie O! Yours is the only one I’d ever “like!” 🙂
Awww … hehe… thanks so much, Jodi! 😃💕
Charlie, I’m new to posting. Would you please give explicit instructions for newbies?
Do you mean how to post for World Watercolor Month?
Your writing is so entertaining and your bug is amazing…..you did pretty well, tall dude!
Lol… thanks so much, Magaret! 😃💕 Glad ya liked this!
That is one badass bug
Haha! Thanks, man! 😃
Your welcome
The name alone sounds creepy and again you created a beauty!
Thanks Teri! 😃💕 I wasn’t sure about this one… it still looks creepy to me. hehe
Fascinating, Charlie, but…ICK. Just….ICK.😳
Super ICK!! Hahah! Thanks Nancy!😃💕
great. just great! don’t want to See, this thing…. but its not so bad in a doodlewash. lol
Thanks, Debi! 😃💕Everything is safer in doodlewash! Lol I really don’t want to meet one of these. They look creepy!! lol
thank goodness!!
I don’t know where you go hiking, Charlie, but you’re certainly running into a fair few of these beetle chaps on your way – each one more outlandish than the last! Lovely pattern to this guy’s shell, expertly executed as always. I think he’s quite impressive, and the hissing thing sounds perfectly scary! Marvellous!
Thanks, Jacob! 😃I only hike in my imagination, hence it’s possible to run into just about anything! Haha. Though these creatures are real. You can’t make this stuff up!
This is one MIGHTY ugly beetle, Charlie! 😉 Awesome doodlewash though! 🎨💕 hehe! 🐜
So ugly isn’t it? Lol But glad ya liked the doodlewash anyway! 😉💕hehe
What a stylish bug Charlie! Great shell washes! I see that the July countdown has started! 😉 <3
Why thank you, Carolina! 😃💕hehe… Yes!! Counting down! Unless you’re in Australia, then it’s already Friday there and time to post!!
What a love bug, he would be a large knight in shiny armour if he were human…..although he could do with polishing his kit? Great stuff as always, ohhhh nearly July 😀
haha… yeah… this one was unpolished so I wanted to try it. I resisted just going for a shiny one and wanted to try other textures. Thanks Rebecca! 😃💕And already July in some parts of the world!! yay!!
You always have the beautiful shadow 😄
Aww… thanks so much, Mimi! 😃💕I love shadows!
Like Mimi said, the shadow is so great! And the bug is another great sketch of yours, but the bug itselg…. iiiihks 🙂
Aww thanks Birgit! 😃💕Yeah… the bug is just gross, but he was so fun to doodlewash! lol
Wonderful looking beetle! Your painting and attention to detail is beautiful. Hmmm, a hissing beetle…too funny. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Haunani! 😃💕Yeah… I don’t really want to run into one, but I do kind of… just to hear it hiss. hehe
This guy will be around on this planet long after we’re all gone… Good choice. Btw, can I accept the 31-day challenge without being of FB?
Oh absolutely!! I’m going to make that super clear, but was just focusing on filling the Facebook group. I’ve learned I can only do one message at a time for people to listen. hehe… just post anywhere with #WorldWatercolorMonth everywhere and every time you post a watercolor!
What a handsome beetle but I really do not want to encounter this guy on my hike!
Me either! haha! Thanks so much, Cathe! 😃💕
Thanks for another interesting journey this month Charlie! Will you have a theme for your watercolors in July? (K)
Thanks, Kerfe! 😃💕Nope! I’m free range Charlie! (scared yet? lol) Though there’s a page of creative prompts Laura helped me with for anyone who wants them under my world watercolor month link.
That’s cool. I’ll have to take a look at the prompts…although I seem to be a bit overwhelmed by all the suggestions floating around these days…I hope to do some watercolor and collage combos. Stay tuned!
Creepy cute, Charlie! I’ll be starting back with my blogging tomorrow. Perfect to start on the first day of World Watercolor Month.
Thanks Sharon! 😃💕And yay… so glad to hear that! Timing is perfect… it’s here! it’s here!! hehe
Charlie, you are so amazing. hehe. You really can make bugs cute. Rock it, guy! Looking forward to a month of paint-puddle-splashing with the O’Man! <3
Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕And yay! It’s almost here! (well for us… my Aussie friends are already starting!) Let’s splash and dance through July!!
We shall, my talented young friend! 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💛🎨💛
Oh, you know anything with ‘rhino’ in their name is going to be locking horns with other males. It’s just the way it is. Great painting even if it is a bug-like crittur (see – I knew beetles weren’t actually bugs. Cause I looked it up, lol).
Lol… I look most things up… lest you think I’m that intelligent! 😃💕 Thanks, Sandra! Glad you liked this bug-like critter!