I had mentioned before that seeing insects in our home or on the porch is a normal sight, even birds that chirp, flying from twigs to twigs. Thus, one morning, as I opened the window curtain, I noticed this beetle on his back on the porch.
At first, I thought it was dead, as there was even an ant beside him. This was the first time I had seen one yet not been startled. I have been used to them since I was a kid, as they were often found on coconut trees.
See? There was even a bird poop beside me as I looked closer. I touched it using a stick, and the pungent smell welcomed me.
I rolled it to his back without further ado, and I was surprised it moved!
So it was still alive and maybe couldn't flip back as the floor was slippery.
Though it looks scary, see how fearsome the eyes and horns are, it was harmless to humans. Memories of my childhood include playing with Cockchafer. We would tie this poor beetle in one of its legs, then make it fly by rotating it in a circular motion. If only they could speak, perhaps it would complain.
This type of beetle I found now was Oryctes rhinoceros or what we called bagangan in our dialect. Even this wasn't able to escape from us and suffered the same faith with the cockchafer. I know we aren't supposed to do that, but we are just kids back then. We thought it was okay.
However, not to coconut trees, as it usually damages the leaves and trunks.
There are a few coconut trees nearby, which perhaps it came from. It was a nuisance to other living things, but that's how the ecosystem works. The life of this beetle was not in my hands. I just threw it outside using the stick and saw it was fine.
I don't know if it was the same beetle, but it's been days I constantly saw one every morning on the porch. On his back, waiting for my mercy.
Lead image was edited using Canva
Photos are mine
Footer credit to Sensiblecast.