# What Do Rhinoceros Beetles Eat?

> What rhinoceros beetles eat: Herbivore (sap, fruit, decaying wood), foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Tropical and temperate forests.

- **Species:** Rhinoceros Beetle (*Dynastinae*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Herbivore (sap, fruit, decaying wood)
- **Habitat:** Tropical and temperate forests
- **Lifespan:** Adults a few months; larvae up to a few years
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/rhinoceros-beetle/what-do-rhinoceros-beetle-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/rhinoceros-beetle/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

Rhinoceros beetles are large beetles named for the horn-like structures on the heads of the males, which they use to fight rivals and dig. They are among the strongest animals relative to their body size, able to push or lift many times their own weight. They are harmless to people and feed mainly on plant material.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Horns and fighting

Male rhinoceros beetles have prominent horns on the head and thorax, while females usually lack them. Males use their horns to wrestle and pry rivals away from feeding sites and mates, rarely causing injury. The horns also help some species dig through soil and leaf litter.

## Help protect the Rhinoceros Beetle

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/rhinoceros-beetle/what-do-rhinoceros-beetle-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.