Tommy St-Laurent thought his plea for help finding a huge black beetle nicknamed Herculito would go unheard.

When the package, sent from Costa Rica, arrived at his door, the bug was nowhere to be found, and the cardboard box it was in appeared to have been tampered with.

But on Monday a photo of a beetle perched on a mail crate popped up in his inbox.

'Marvellous' Hercules beetle stolen en route from Costa Rica to Quebec This photo of the Hercules beetle was sent to Tommy St-Laurent, who had been anxiously awaiting the beetle, but the packaging carrying it showed up empty. The photo was also sent to CBC. (Facebook)

The bug looks exactly like the one St-Laurent had been anxiously awaiting, and the person who sent it said it was taken in a mail processing plant near Toronto, he said.

"It was a really good moment," said St-Laurent, who studies insects and runs a small insectarium in Amos, Que. "And it was a hopeful moment because I still pray they found some good plants for him in this place."

A photo of a large black beetle was also emailed to the CBC Montreal newsroom by somebody identified as an employee of Canada Post, who had seen the picture on a postal worker's Facebook group.

Herculito's long journey

St-Laurent's friend Gabriela had sent him the rare beetle for his 39th birthday.

She had given it food before its journey, but it was all gone by the time the empty package reached St-Laurent, leading him to believe the beetle had time to reach Canada before disappearing.

"When you are an entomologist, the best gift that we can give to you is to have a really big [bug] species," he told CBC News on July 8, while he was still putting out feelers in hopes of tracking down his bug.

Border agents take custody

On Tuesday, Canada Post confirmed to CBC News that indeed, a large beetle was found alive at its Toronto facility and "turned over to the appropriate authorities."

"Those who found it, did not know where it came from, as it was loose," a spokesperson for Canada Post said in a later email. "The beetle was therefore handed over to a CBSA [Canada Border Services Agency] agent."

St-Laurent said Monday he was hoping whoever has the beetle will give it a banana and some water before he and his family make the trip to Toronto by car to pick up the bug.

When the hercules beetle package arrived at the Labyrinthe des insectes in Amos, Que., it was empty and appeared to be tampered with. (Submitted by Tommy St-Laurent)

"I don't want to ship him again because I think I'm a little hurt," St-Laurent said, laughing.

He's worried Herculito is, too, but says the beetle – which can grow up to 12 centimetres in length – can survive several days without food.

It's water he needs, St-Laurent said.

The entomologist says the beetle is "absolutely not dangerous."

As his name suggests, Herculito really is strong. However, St-Laurent says the only way it would pinch you is if you stick your finger between its thorax and its abdomen.

Celebrity beetle

St-Laurent says he's not the only one who wants to find Herculito alive.

He's been flooded with messages from people who want to visit his insectarium, the Labyrinthe des insectes, to see the friendly critter.

"He's an educational star now," St-Laurent said. "He's a celebrity."