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Chibi Stag Beetle
IntermediateFigulus binodulus
A tiny stag beetle only 1-2 cm long. With almost no difference between sexes, it shows subsocial behavior — adults live with their larvae inside rotten wood. It also eats animal matter.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperature
18〜28℃
Lifespan
Adult 2-3 years (overwinters; up to 5 years recorded)
Size
About 10-20mm (sexes nearly identical)
Humidity
55〜75%
Diet
Rotten wood, beetle jelly (also takes animal matter)
About
The chibi stag beetle (Figulus binodulus) is a tiny lucanid only about 10-20 mm long, entirely black with an elongated body and finely striated elytra. Its most remarkable trait is subsocial behavior: adults remain inside rotten wood and care for their young, chewing the wood to make it easier for the larvae to feed. It lives in groups under the bark of decayed oak, sawtooth oak, cherry and wisteria logs and can be found year-round. The sexes are nearly identical in mandible shape, making them hard to tell apart. The key to keeping it is to let it burrow into rotten wood rather than mat alone, and its unusual ecology gives it a devoted following.
Lifespan of the Chibi Stag Beetle
The Chibi Stag Beetle lives Adult 2-3 years (overwinters; up to 5 years recorded).
Omnivorous, it eats not only sap but also worms and small insects beneath the bark, overwinters as an adult and lives 2-3 years (up to 5 in captivity).
Size of the Chibi Stag Beetle
The Chibi Stag Beetle grows to About 10-20mm (sexes nearly identical).
Temperature & humidity for the Chibi Stag Beetle
The ideal temperature for the Chibi Stag Beetle is 18〜28℃.
Basic Info
Origin
Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and others)
Lifespan
Adult 2-3 years (overwinters; up to 5 years recorded)
Size
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.
Primary sources
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Figulus binodulus Waterhouse, 1872
Synonyms: Figulus yunnanensis Nagel, 1928
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Plant Protection Act: As a native (indigenous) species, the species identification certificate under the Invasive Species Act is not required for live imports.
Though native, avoid releasing captive-bred or purchased individuals into the wild. Such release risks genetic disturbance of local populations.
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Chibi Stag Beetle Listings
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