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Eupatorus hardwickii
A small member of the five-horned beetle genus ranging from India along the southern Himalaya into south-western China. It carries the five horns of the genus. Freshly emerged adults are slow to become active, which makes it a hard beetle to breed on.
Eupatorus hardwickii was described by Hope in 1831; the Japanese Wikipedia calls it the small five-horned beetle. GBIF holds most records from India, followed by China, Bhutan and Nepal, while beetlebreeding.ch gives China and Myanmar. Like the rest of the genus it bears one horn on the head and four on the prothorax. Beetlebreeding.ch says it knows of no detailed breeding report and adds that the central problem with Eupatorus is obtaining an active F1: wild-caught females lay plenty of eggs and the larvae develop well over some eight months before pupating, but the beetles that emerge neither become active nor mate nor lay, instead entering a long dormancy. The species does not appear in the BE-KUWA certified records.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Hardwicke's Five-horned Beetle lives Adults 3-5 months.
Origin
South and East Asia (India, Nepal, Bhutan and south-western China, with records from Myanmar)
Lifespan
Adults 3-5 months
Temperature
20〜28℃
Humidity
60〜80%
Sap of bamboo shoots, tree sap and fruit; beetle jelly
Sources: Ben's Beetle Breeding Pages - Eupatorus hardwickei (range; the inactive-F1 problem; larval period) / GBIF species page for Eupatorus hardwickii (distribution and occurrence records by country) / Eupatorus - Wikipedia (JA; member species, Japanese names, bamboo-grove habits, horn arrangement) / Eupatorus - Wikipedia (EN; species list with authors and dates)
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
Accepted name: Eupatorus hardwickii (Hope, 1831)
Synonyms: Eupatorus hardwickei (Hope, 1831)
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Plant Protection Act: When importing live specimens of Scarabaeoidea (including rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles, flower beetles, etc.), a species identification certificate issued by the exporting country government agency or equivalent must be attached in accordance with the Invasive Species Act (import ports are limited to Narita, Chubu, Kansai, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima airports). This species itself is not a designated invasive species, and import is possible upon submission of the certificate.
Sources: Ministry of the Environment, Invasive Species Act: "Guidance for Those Importing Live Insects in Scarabaeoidea" / CITES Appendix (checklist.cites.org)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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No published figures for rearing temperature or humidity exist for this species, so none are given. It comes from the cooler country along the southern Himalaya and south-western China, so avoid heat. Beetlebreeding.ch suggests that the missing trigger for ending dormancy may be a cold or a drier period.
Wild-caught females lay many eggs readily and the larvae are reported to pupate in about eight months. The difficulty comes afterwards: the emerged adults stay inactive and neither mate nor lay, so an F2 rarely follows. Attempt egg-laying in a deep set of fermented substrate.
Keep adults singly. Males shove each other with their horns, so do not house them together. Pair only beetles that have become active, and only briefly.
The larval period is reported at about eight months, but the dormancy after emergence has been said to last as long as a year. Any estimate must allow for both. No measured adult lifespan has been published.
Importing live beetles requires the species identification certificate demanded for live Scarabaeoidea. Because captive lines are hard to keep going, check where stock comes from so that keeping it does not simply depend on wild-caught beetles.
Advanced. This is an advanced-level species. It requires specialized equipment and advanced husbandry skills with precise environmental control.
The average lifespan of Hardwicke's Five-horned Beetle is Adults 3-5 months. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.
Hardwicke's Five-horned Beetle feeds on: Sap of bamboo shoots, tree sap and fruit; beetle jelly. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Hardwicke's Five-horned Beetle varies significantly depending on bloodline, size, captive-bred generation, and sex. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.
Last updated: September 17, 2026