Dynastes Grub throwing up blood??

[the_cream_man]

I was feeding my D.grantii the other night and one of them had it's head at the surface when I opened the tub.  I looked at it and a black liquid started being up from it's mouth.  Is this a deterrent? Kinda freaked me out tbh

[Oak]

It is a deterrent. I noticed this behavior only from Dynastes grantii so far.

[Goliathus]

Adult Dynastes do it as well.  Regurgitating liquified gut contents when disturbed is also a well known behavior in many Orthoptera, especially short-horned grasshoppers (Acrididae).  Presumably, the fluid is foul-tasting to predators.

[the_cream_man]

@Oak & @Goliathus thanks, I'm glad others can confirm this behavior-- really freaked me out.  Would really be freaked if an adult did that to me 😰