To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Fill the container with flake soil up till 4 (~10cm) in depth. How do you know which grub is male and which is female? Instead, wait for it to appear on the surface for feeding to remove it. You can let the beetles mate 1 month after they start feeding. (Photo: Daniel Davis/CC BY 2.0) Some bugs should just never be shipped, says Ramsey. cute Try not to disturb them too much, especially when the late 3rd instar grub is building its pupation chamber. I am Haomaru. Stag Beetles are nocturnal animals and do not require any special heating/lighting equipment. As the name suggests it is a cup with liquid fruit jelly that can be fed on almost any beetle. They've even become extinct in a couple of European . This website seems to indicate that the longest living kuwagata is the ookuwagata (giant stag beetle). Because of their disproportionate size, they are sometimes compared to the antlers of a stag. Dorcus Oita You can start to collect the grubs 2 months after first seeing the female burrows into the flake soil. Giant stag beetles can cost up to $4.50 in Japan, where they are known as "black diamonds." Tomislav, I am so happy to get this info in English. Do not let your beetles mate if you do not intend to breed them. Instead of directly dropping them on the tank, place them on a sauce plate. 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. 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. The giant stag beetles, especially the female beetles, like to hide in the substrate. These are laid into rotting wood and hatch after 10 to 14 days. Make sure the substrate and wood are moist/damp, as it stimulates the female to lay their eggs and makes a good condition for eggs to survive and hatch into larvae. Remove any unconsumed food everyday to prevent growth of molds. Why do we change the substrate by specific interval instead of checking the amount of feces? If you are lucky, you can buy them from your local pet store or online store. Stag beetles are very popular pets in Japan, with many children collecting them for fun. Some beetle jellies even boast various fitness benefits such as improved longevity, stronger beetles, and larger offspring. You can use plain water and a toothbrush and a toothpick to pick these little white mites off of the beetles joints. Like the kind that burrow into your skin and carry Lyme disease? A giant stag beetle is an awesome beetle to keep as a pet due to its cool pincers and large body size. Never forcefully pull the beetles from a surface they grasp because that may break their legs. 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. Even though its traditional in Japan, avoid watermelons and other water-heavy fruits. Brown Stag Beetle Larva Out of stock Special Sale Quick View Smooth Ox Beetle Larva $50.00 $30.00 Special Sale Quick View Ox Beetle Larva Out of stock RARE Quick View Hybrid-Goliath Beetle Larva (L1-L2) $75.00 Restocked Quick View Harlequin Flower Beetle Larva $15.00 RARE Quick View Goliath Beetle Larva $60.00 Special Sale Quick View Remember to check out our recommended books to learn more about keeping giant stag beetle. Breeding stag beetles can be tricky and the difficulty depends on the species. But first, lets have a closer look at stag beetles and their biology. Due to the small size of the eggs, I would advise you to leave them in the nursery container and let them hatch. Stag beetles are extremely popular pets in Japan. You should adjust the volume of food you give them through trial and error to avoid wasting your food, especially if you are feeding them beetle jelly. The species that is most familiar in Europe is known as the stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) and is the largest terrestrial insect in the whole of Europe. Do not disturb the grubs once it starts building the pupation chamber. Tree barks should also be removed so that the beetles can easily chew through the wood for oviposition. Also, a little mold is apparently fine, but if it gets out of hand, you can use a tissue to wipe the mold off. This species has a typical brown/black appearance. You can also use an old aquarium and make a custom lid. If outside, a shaded area is best. The rotten wood should be soaked in water overnight and air-dried before use. Thanks! We just found our kuwagata crawling around on hot concrete and very sad to read they are almost extinct in the wild. I noticed my kabuto mushi wasnt eating a lot during the day, but in the evening and at night, he munched happily away at the banana I gave him. You do not need to change the jelly unless it becomes empty. The typical price is from300 yen to 2,000 yen. How to Take Care of Rhinoceros Beetles (Kabutomushi), How to Take Care of Dragonfly Nymphs (Yago), How to Take Care of Japanese Freshwater Crabs (Sawagani), How to Take Care of Your Stag Beetle (Kuwagatamushi). Hence I have created this blog to share my experience and knowledge to help beginners who want to start keeping exotic pets. Always grab their thorax instead of their legs because their legs are very fragile. The case should be placed in a cool quiet place that does not change temperature rapidly (under genkan shoe box for example) that stays above freezing temperatures. You should also put some tree branches or tree bark for the beetles to climb. Car exhaust gasses are not healthy for insects. Petting Beetles and Making Them Fight A Miyama stag beetle (photo credit: Pakutaso) During the summer time, more insects begin to appear. Hi have just found stag beetle male in garden on its back with half a front leg missing. After that, the grub will spend another 9-18 months before it finally molts into a pupa. These beetles are good fliers and they are active at night. All of this information was compiled, translated, and arranged from the below sources. Description. museums At the minimum besides a substrate, you should provide a hide for your beetle(s). If you enjoy this website, found some benefit in reading the articles and would like to send a donation, it is really appreciated. However, if you keep and raise stag beetle larvae, youll need another substrate. If the purpose isnt breeding, 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) is fine. How much of a concern are they? Every species has its own development time and some can take up years before they are ready to pupate. You can use bug-repellent dirt called or (boumushi matto/boudani matto) to keep harmful bugs away. When pulling a beetle off a surface can damage its legs, feet or claws. All rights reserved. The male beetles have a pair of enormous pincers. The good news is that the care between the different species does not differ much, if at all. Keep the male and female beetles in the same tank for mating. We will discuss in detail how to house, feed and care for them. However, there are multiple colour variations of the rainbow stag beetle, as well as other stag beetle species. In some species, the male may damage or kill the female during breeding. As long as you provide good ventilation it will be fine. The stag beetle and rhino beetle are similar in many elements except in the unique structures on their heads. The adult giant stag beetles typically live for about 9 months. Also, the article said ticks? Place the fruit onto a sauce plate so that you can clean it easily. You can use a glass terrarium for housing them, but a simple plastic box works just as well. Keep the container well-ventilated and covered. Travel and Lifestyle Advice Centered on Tokyo, Japan. Stag beetles have a shiny black head and thorax (middle section), and chestnut-brown wing cases. Stag beetles are very large, robust beetles. Place the fruit onto a sauce plate so that you can clean it easily. .hide-if-no-js { Kinshi is basically sawdust broken down by mushrooms. If you purchase through our partner links, we get paid for the referral at no additional cost to you! Also, even though some beetles hibernate in the winter, do make sure not to let the temperature get too low either. Change the substrates every 4 months until the grub turns into pupa. This leads us to the next point. Dont use insect screens because beetles are strong and may gnaw a way out. The adequately moist substrates should hold together in a shape when squeezed with both hands, but there should not be dripping water. You can use a bend tree piece, coconut husk or some cork bark pieces. Although stag beetles are tough and strong, you still need to be delicate when handling your beetles. I guess we have a new pet now. Thank you for this article! If handled carelessly, their pinch can draw blood from a person. However, they've become all the rage due to their ease of care and striking colors. Unfortunately, since I dont have the background in insects, I am unable to answer your question. First, a little more about stag beetles. Make a few ventilation holes on the container. beer This is to prevent her from eating her own grubs, which she would mistaken them as grubs of other beetles. In addition, keeping leaves in the case helps keep the soil moist. Hopefully, this care guide will help you to give proper care and that you enjoy keeping these amazing creatures. Please read ourdisclaimerfor more info. A male giant stag beetle can grow up to 2 in length. Dont place the enclosure in direct sunlight, because this will heat up the enclosure to temperatures that are deadly for your beetles. Stag beetles are a very popular pet in Japan. Manage Settings Time limit is exhausted. Stag beetles are sensitive to extreme temperature. http://jeb.biologists.org/content/14/3/364 This is very likely to shorten the beetles lifespan, so it is probably better to let your beetle sleep. Change the substrate once every 4 months depending on container size. Some wild specimens can grow up to 12cm (4.7). How the larvae develop depends on the species. You can use peat/soil mixture in 1:1 ratio as the substrates for the housing. It is tragic that so much of insects natural habitat is being developed hot concrete isnt a very nice place to kuwagata, I think. It is packed with all the information, tips and tricks to know about substrate for beetles. setTimeout( . And as with all insects, they have 6 legs. However, I kept them singly in separate containers to maximize growth. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. Continue to provide the gravid female with jelly. The website states that they are in their larval form for up to 3 years and then that it isnt rare for them to live in their adult form for 5 years before they pass. Giant stag beetles are good fliers. Stag beetles are a family of about 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies. visa. It is more convenient to use in terms of preparation and storage. However, these large jaws are more bark than bite. Cover the chamber with a lid and make it ventilated. Stag beetles are found in Europe and North America and are often bought as pets in South Korea and Japan. Dani repellent methods are likely to be dangerous to the kabuto mushi, so I personally wouldnt recommend it. Why they make great pets Why this particular insect thrives in captivity Special considerations when caring for this insect Costs of keeping these insects, habitat, food, heating bills etc Keeping insects as pets can be a truly special experience. I hope you have some babies coming soon . Rainbow stag beetles can be kept together in the same container. }. My Pet Beetle, Chalcosoma Caucasus. The smeared feces release bacteria, which help the grubs to digest some substrates before the grubs feed on them. This tiny insect is the most rare and strange species in the world. Beetles As Pets - A great blog with lots of details of how to take care of beetles as well as a supply of larvae and adult beetles. 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