Knowledgebase

Really Big Bug #938347

Asked July 07, 2026, 11:20 AM EDT

This appeared on my patio (in Silver Spring) as I was gardening. I scrambled into the house. What is this? Does it sting or bite? I’m so afraid of my yard now.

Montgomery County Maryland

Expert Response

Hi, 

These are so cool and a bit rare to see, you can be lucky to have one visit your yard! This is a type of Hercules beetle, part of the Rhinoceros beetle group. They are the largest beetle in North America! They can be scary-looking but are harmless. The large "horns" on the front are only used for fighting other male beetles and attracting mates. Females don't develop the horns. Granted, you may not want to try to hold one in a closed hand. Anything with a mouth can bite, but it's very unlikely these guys would harm you. 

You can read more about them on our Instagram post and the Maryland Biodiversity Project's Facebook posts. 

You can share your photos on iNaturalist to document your findings!

Emily

Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 07, 2026, 12:37 PM EDT

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