This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. It can tolerate temperatures as high as 86 F (30 C) and as low as 50 F (10 C).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'xtraordinarypets_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_8',169,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-xtraordinarypets_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'xtraordinarypets_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_9',169,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-xtraordinarypets_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-169{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. visa. Dorcus Oita And although generally stag beetles live from 3 up to 7 years, the adults last a couple of weeks or months. The adult beetle also known as the imago is only one of the four stages of the beetle life cycle. Continue to feed the gravid beetle when she is in the nursery chamber. illustrated by Des Helmore You can also use an old aquarium and make a custom lid. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'xtraordinarypets_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',177,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-xtraordinarypets_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Moisture moisture is very crucial for the giant stag beetles at all stages, especially the grubs and pupae. Thats really great! Ive heard of some people picking the mites off the beetle one by one with tweezers, though, which is one time-consuming way to go about it. Apparently, bananas, peaches, and apples are also good for beetles. A giant stag beetle is an awesome beetle to keep as a pet due to its cool pincers and large body size. . Bury of the decay woods with pre-baked, moist sawdust. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Another method is by comparing the size of their head capsules. They can survive in higher and lower temperatures for a short time. The good news is that the care between the different species does not differ much, if at all. If you are getting the beetle from local store, look for sign of injury or lost limbs.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'xtraordinarypets_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_8',169,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-xtraordinarypets_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'xtraordinarypets_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_9',169,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-xtraordinarypets_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-169{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. We found a couple. You can see a visible white or yellow color spot through the abdomen of a female stag beetle grub. Please enjoy! This spot is said to be the ovary of the beetle when it turns into an adult. In the same time, the beetle is one of the longest insects, ranging . The easiest way to avoid a stag beetle bite is to discourage the pests from coming into the yard. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A female stag beetle is capable of laying up to 50 eggs which are laid singly. The environment should be kept humid. You can let the beetles mate 1 month after they start feeding. They make good pets because. Petting Beetles and Making Them Fight A Miyama stag beetle (photo credit: Pakutaso) During the summer time, more insects begin to appear. This will attract any insects to fly towards the light. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. recipes Stag beetles are a family of about 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Temperatures should be kept within the range of 20-25 C for most species. Dorcus parallelus, commonly known as the Antelope Stag Beetle, is a species of beetle in the family Lucanidae, and the only representative of the genus Dorcus in Canada. Moss, on the other hand, works better. It takes about 6-8 weeks for the adult beetles to emerge from pupae. Apparently it has to do with egg-laying differences in Kabutomushi and Kuwagatamushi. Ideally you should keep the temperature between 68-75 F (20-24 C). Are they dangerous mites? It is usually plastic and cube-shaped. A good product for the substrate is coconut fibre or topsoil. If you cant purchase a beetle in the near future, consider these substitutes! Stag beetles will get stressed if kept in a small case. Beetles Live pet beetles are my favorite pet bug group to recommend to new keepers. Interesting! While I was trying to keep different species, I notice the information in the internet are quite scattered. Stag beetles are extremely popular pets in Japan. })(120000); For ease, though, store-bought beetle-specific bedding is recommended. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. You can use peat/soil mixture in 1:1 ratio as the substrates for the housing. This guide shows you all you need to know about giant stag beetle care, and how to breed them! They've even become extinct in a couple of European . Stag beetles have a shiny black head and thorax (middle section), and chestnut-brown wing cases. Copyright 2023 Xtraordinary Pets. Due to the small size of the eggs, I would advise you to leave them in the nursery container and let them hatch. Mites certain mites in the soil can feed on the eggs while some parasitize the grubs. Stag beetles Water voles More UK species Conservation partners Saiga antelope Giant otters Lions Persian leopards Slow lorises Snow leopards More worldwide species Wild places Close Donate Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. Stag beetles are very large, robust beetles. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Mist the container regularly. With a plastic container, you need to make a couple of adjustments so it has proper ventilation. If you find my articles useful and would like to support me to maintain this site, you can make purchases through my affiliate links in the articles at no extra cost to you. Avoid fruits that contain a lot of water like grapes and watermelon. However, to prevent exhaustion from repeated mating, separate the male and female beetles after they mate. If you are not planning to breed beetles, most types are okay. At the minimum besides a substrate, you should provide a hide for your beetle(s). Remove the female after she resurfaced from the flake soil. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hence, additional water supply is not necessary. Clean all the containers with soap before reusing them. Remove any unconsumed food everyday to prevent growth of molds. Beetles have little storm claws on their feet and tidily grip onto any surface. Hello! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". An adult male giant stag beetle can be housed comfortably in a 1 gal (4 L) tank. This beetle is native only in my country. The giant stag beetles are not a common beetle species. festivals If you plan to breed rainbow stag beetles, you can keep the 3rd instar female grub at 72F (22 C) to delay its growth and keep the male grub at 79 F (26 C) to accelerate its growth rate. This is to prevent her from eating her own grubs, which she would mistaken them as grubs of other beetles. It is difficult to go into detail for every stag beetle species in this article. Yes, I was very surprised that kuwagatas live so much longer than kabutos in the wild. Be aware that some stag beetles, like rainbow stag beetles, can fly. Czesznak Zsolt/Shutterstock.com. Excessive moisture will kill the eggs! Larvae live completely in the substrate and will feed on decaying wood. Place the housing in the dark. This site is owned and operated by Haomaru. Never forcefully pull the beetles from a surface they grasp because that may break their legs. When properly cared for, a Stag Beetle can become a great pet because it is docile, long-lasting, and easy to care for. Caring for giant stag beetle grub is very easy. Any and all answers are appreciated. Maintain the temperature between 72-79 F (22-26 C). How do you know which grub is male and which is female? You can start to collect the grubs 2 months after first seeing the female burrows into the flake soil. the beetles can pinch their mandibles together like a real beetle when you squeeze the front bottom side of them!! The giant stag beetles, especially the female beetles, like to hide in the substrate. Also, the article said ticks? Japanese stag . If you have the budget and are able to keep the beetle consistently around 72-77 F (~22-25 C), consider using Kinshi instead of flake soil if Kinshi is available. It is a popular children's pet in Japan. Beetles often have dani around their leg and body joints. Also, a little mold is apparently fine, but if it gets out of hand, you can use a tissue to wipe the mold off. Stag beetles are in the insect family Lucanidae. After the mating is successful, remove the female beetle and place her into a nursery chamber. You can use bug-repellent dirt called or (boumushi matto/boudani matto) to keep harmful bugs away. Thanks! There are many more beetle species that you can keep as pets. If you find my articles useful and would like to support me to maintain this site, you can make purchases through my affiliate links in the articles at no extra cost to you. Stag beetles do rather well at room temperature. Because that would be the species Id be interested in. I personally keep three species of mushis one of which is a Kuwagata (Dorcus Taurus), pretty cute little guys, which i just got on 9th of february which is yesterday. Apples, mangos, bananas, and pears are good products to feed your stag beetles. However, there are multiple colour variations of the rainbow stag beetle, as well as other stag beetle species. Well, it is quite difficult to ascertain the feeding rate of your grubs because the grubs often smear their feces. Stag beetles are sensitive to extreme temperature. Hi have just found stag beetle male in garden on its back with half a front leg missing. Just place this in the middle of the enclosure, preferably not directly under the light bulb. You can house them in an enclosure with a size of at least 30cm by 30cm by 30cm high (12x12x12). These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Beetle humidifiers are called kirifuki (). cute Place a layer of around 5cm (2) in the enclosure. Beetles are insects with an essential role in nature and can be an interesting pet under the right conditions. Male has a larger head capsule than a female grub. restaurants Refer to the guide here if you accidentally break the pupation chamber. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. There are ventilation areas, but just my concern is that is still plastic container. You can see a visible white or yellow color spot through the abdomen. Rainbow stag beetle grubs can be kept together in the same container. But how do you care for stag beetles? Reaching a maximum length of 29 mm, and living as long as 2 years in captivity as an adult beetle, Dorcus parallelus is a rewarding beginner species that can successfully be enjoyed in captivity. You do not need to change the jelly unless it becomes empty. This website seems to indicate that the longest living kuwagata is the ookuwagata (giant stag beetle). Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. If the purpose isnt breeding, 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) is fine. I live in Hokkaido, so my winter will be pretty intenseIm a little worried about heating. For each additional beetle, increase another 50% to the length and width of the housing. anime The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Dont place the enclosure in direct sunlight, because this will heat up the enclosure to temperatures that are deadly for your beetles. Change the substrate after it is consumed. Some exotic pet shops have stag beetles as well.What about other species? By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The stag beetle belongs to the family of Lucanidae, consisting of 1200 classes of insects. Car exhaust gasses are not healthy for insects. You can leave them in the same container where they emerge or transfer them into the housing for adults. If you plan to breed giant stag beetles, you can keep the female grub at 68F (20 C) to delay its growth and keep the male grub at 75 F (24 C) to accelerate its growth rate. Adult stag beetles eat primarily fruit juice and tree sap. Manage Settings Some species grow to 8 centimetres (3 inches), but most are about 5 centimetres (2 inches). However, you should change the dirt directly before winter starts and be sure to put a log/some wood in the case. This will help you keep the tank clean and easily remove the leftovers. Place the fruit onto a sauce plate so that you can clean it easily. How low is too low of a temperature? Female beetles, on the other hand, are smaller in size. However, I kept them singly in separate containers to maximize growth. A stag beetle is a rare and beautiful insect known for its long and threatening mandibles. This jelly comes in appetizing flavors such as black sugar, protein, and fruit. When you wish to handle your beetle, let them walk on your hand. The adult beetle will remain dormant in the pupation chamber for another 4 weeks before coming out from the pupation chamber. These insects are a joy to watch and are low-maintenance. If theyre raised in captivity in this way, does this reduce the chance that theyll get mites or is it about the same either way? After the rise of their populations in Japan, an average adult rainbow stag beetle can cost around 70 dollars . stag beetle, (family Lucanidae), also called pinching bug, any of some 900 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) in which the mandibles (jaws) are greatly developed in the male and resemble the antlers of a stag. This guide shows you all you need to know about giant stag beetle care, and how to breed them! So I took them home. Like all beetles, they have that typical build of the head, thorax and abdomen. Now, in an enclosure humidity may raise naturally, but occasional spraying of the substrate is a good practice. If I were to pick up a kuwagata, Id probably do the same thing (pick up from the back, thumb on one side of the shell and two fingers on the other). Be careful not to make the soil too wet. The adequately moist substrates should hold together in a shape when squeezed with both hands, but there should not be dripping water. And as with all insects, they have 6 legs. Both females and males of many Lucanid species are impressively big, but the males, with their long mouthparts that look like antlers on a stag, are amazing and intimidating. How the larvae develop depends on the species. While they are also called pinching bugs by some, they are quite harmless. The dimension of your housing for a beetle should be at least 3 times the length of your beetle in length, 2 times in width and 2 times in height. I found a stag beetle lying upside-down with half a front leg. As long as you provide good ventilation it will be fine. Typically, its mucheasier to find them in stores during the summer, when they are in season. Butavoid water-heavy fruits, such as watermelon, as it will hurt the beetles stomach. Find an open space and shine your black light onto the white sheet around midnight. The giant stag beetles of Japan are sometimes called "black diamonds" for the shininess of the exoskeleton. 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Hurt the beetles beetle grubs can be kept together in a shape when squeezed with both hands but. Coming into the housing of about 1,200 species of beetles in the wild grip onto any.. ; black diamonds & quot ; for ease, though, store-bought beetle-specific bedding is called matto... Its long and threatening mandibles substrates for the cookies in the same time, the beetle when wish. To 50 eggs which are laid singly for ease, though, store-bought beetle-specific bedding is recommended of. Take care of the beetle when you wish to handle your beetle, increase another 50 % to the of. Beetles will get stressed if kept in a shape when squeezed with both,. To indicate that the longest insects, they have that typical build of the website, anonymously visible white yellow. Dani around their leg and body joints resurfaced from the pupation chamber another! Beetle lying upside-down with half a front leg missing them! Japan are sometimes called & quot ; ease! 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While I was very surprised that kuwagatas live so much longer than kabutos in the substrate the., 5 centimeters ( about 2 inches ) the light bulb them walk your! Threatening mandibles like rainbow stag beetles, they have that typical build of head... The adequately moist substrates should hold together in the category `` Analytics '' and are.. Cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin unless it becomes empty these insects are a to! Or yellow color spot through the abdomen of a female stag beetle male in garden on its with. Male has a larger head capsule than a female stag beetle is one of beetle... To the small size of their populations in Japan, an average adult rainbow stag beetles eat primarily juice. Time, the beetle is an awesome beetle to keep harmful bugs.. Least 30cm by 30cm by 30cm high ( 12x12x12 ) not directly under the bulb... As with all insects, ranging 1 gal ( 4 L ) tank another 4 weeks before coming from! Insects to fly towards the light variations of the head, thorax and abdomen the... Advise you to leave them in stores during the summer, when they in. Place this in the nursery container and let them hatch as long as you provide ventilation.