hercules beetle

2 definitions found

hercules beetle - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Hercules \Her"cu*les\, n.
     1. (Gr. Myth.) A hero, fabled to have been the son of Jupiter
        and Alcmena, and celebrated for great strength, esp. for
        the accomplishment of his twelve great tasks or "labors."
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Astron.) A constellation in the northern hemisphere, near
        Lyra.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Hercules' beetle (Zool.), any species of Dynastes, an
        American genus of very large lamellicorn beetles, esp.
        Dynastes hercules of South America, which grows to a
        length of six inches.
  
     Hercules powder, an explosive containing nitroglycerin; --
        used for blasting.
        [1913 Webster] Hercules'-club
        Hercules'-club

  Dynastidan \Dy*nas"ti*dan\, n. [Gr. ?, fem. of ?. See Dynast.
     The name alludes to the immense size of some species.]
     (Zool.)
     One of a group of gigantic, horned beetles, including
     Dynastus Neptunus, and the Hercules beetle (Dynastus Hercules
     ) of tropical America, which grow to be six inches
     in length.
     [1913 Webster]