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Curvidens Giant Stag Beetle
BeginnerDorcus curvidens
A black giant stag beetle of highlands from northern India through Indochina to southern China. The twisted-looking inner mandibular teeth give it its name. Rearing follows D. hopei and is easy.
Difficulty
Beginner
Temperature
18℃
Lifespan
Adults 2-4 years
Size
Males 30.1-80.0mm, females 27.6-42.4mm (captive record 85.6mm)
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Beetle jelly; larvae on fungus bottles or fermented substrate
About
The Curvidens giant stag beetle (Dorcus curvidens) ranges from northern India through Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, northern Thailand, Laos and northern Vietnam to southern China. The inner teeth of the mandibles look twisted, hence the species name meaning curved tooth. Males measure 30.1-80.0mm and females 27.6-42.4mm. The Japanese D. hopei was once treated as a subspecies of D. curvidens, and some still regard them as one species, but they are generally separated on morphology. Subspecies D. c. babai was described from Vietnam in 2010. Eggs hatch in about a month, larvae take six months to two years depending on conditions, and adults live 2-4 years. Rearing follows D. hopei: larvae on fungus bottles or fermented substrate, eggs laid in decaying logs. Room temperature is fine, but keep summers below 30C; activity slows below 18C. The BE-KUWA 2025 captive record is 85.6mm for Himalayan stock (2002). Stock is traded with locality names (Vietnam, India, Nepal), and keeping localities unmixed preserves value.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Curvidens Giant Stag Beetle
The Curvidens Giant Stag Beetle lives Adults 2-4 years.
Size of the Curvidens Giant Stag Beetle
The Curvidens Giant Stag Beetle grows to Males 30.1-80.0mm, females 27.6-42.4mm (captive record 85.6mm).
Temperature & humidity for the Curvidens Giant Stag Beetle
The ideal temperature for the Curvidens Giant Stag Beetle is 18℃.
Basic Info
Origin
Northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, northern Thailand, Laos, northern Vietnam, southern China
Care Specifications
Semi-aggressiveSolitaryBreeding: Easy
Sources: Beetle Farm: keeping adult Dorcus / Beetle Farm: rearing Q&A / Wikipedia (Dorcus curvidens, ja)
Breeding Records & Localities
Captive record (♂)
85.6 mm
Wild record (♂)
81.5 mm
Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition (Dorcus curvidens, Himalaya, captive 85.6 mm, 金井貴雅 2002; wild max 81.5 mm). Other localities: Indochina captive 80.9 mm, IDC 2024 (wild 77.0); southern Vietnam babai captive 81.0 mm, 金森崇 2014 (wild 75.4)
Notable localities
Northern VietnamNorthern IndiaNepalChina (Guangxi)
Regional subspecies
- Dorcus curvidens curvidens（Nominate subspecies） — Northern India to Indochina and southern China
- Dorcus curvidens babai（Described in 2010） — Vietnam
Generation codes
- WD
- Wild-caught
- WF1
- Offspring of a wild-caught female
- F1〜
- Captive generations (same locality)
- CBF1
- Cross-locality captive-bred (reset)
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Dorcus curvidens (Hope, 1840)
Synonyms: Lucanus curvidens Hope, 1840
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / MOE Japan: import of Scarabaeoidea beetles
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Curvidens Giant Stag Beetle Listings
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