Major vs. Minor?

[Jordan]

This is probably a really stupid question but is there a real difference between major an minor size? To make this more clear of a question is a beetle either major or minor or do they all have the ability to go from minor to major?

Thanks,

Jordan

 

[Ometeo]

Jordan,

nearly all larvae have the chance to become majors, all males/females posses the ability to make larvae with the qualities to make "majors", it's a matter of nutrition and overcrowding. Now, not all majors will be HUGE, that is pre-determined by genes ;-)

 

[Regiarbol]

Also, no growth occurs once the larva becomes a beetle, so if the the beetle is minor, it will stay minor forever.

 

[rugops]

Is there a way to know whether the larvae will be major or minor? Here is a link showing the difference between a Major and Minor Male and honestly I didn't even know that Dynastes hercules males had this variation.

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/BEETLES/Dynastes_hercules.htm

 

[Northern Kinshi]

Generally larvae that will be “major” grow much larger then the others before pupation. I’ve found it hard to tell until this point because there are lots of other variables in larvae size, like sex and overall growth rates can be inconsistent