Rhinoceros Beetle Strength: A Popular Number Needs Context

Rhinoceros beetles are often said to lift or support loads 850 times heavier than themselves. A scientific paper, however, describes that figure as anecdotal. In a controlled study of *Xylorctes thestalus*, beetles could walk steadily for a long time with loads exceeding 30 body masses; with 100 body masses they could move, but not sustain a steady speed. These are measurements for one species in a laboratory, not a universal record for all rhinoceros beetles. The illustration is AI-generated.