Source: Wikimedia Commons
Ludeking's shining stag beetle
AdvancedOdontolabis ludekingi
A large shining stag beetle from Sumatra. Males have thick, strongly curved mandibles, the wing-case markings run diagonally and the head surface is rough. It is regarded as one of the harder Odontolabis to get laying.
Difficulty
Advanced
Temperature
20〜28℃
Lifespan
Adults a few months (genus accounts); 1-2 years from hatching to pupation
Size
Captive record 81.3mm, wild record 81.0mm
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Adults take sap or beetle jelly; larvae eat well-decayed wood and nitrogen-rich substrate
About
Odontolabis ludekingi (Snellen van Vollenhoven, 1861) is a shining stag beetle from Sumatra, originally described as Lucanus ludekingi. GBIF records come from Lampung, West Sumatra, Riau and elsewhere on the island, and forms described as monticola and robustus are treated there as synonyms. Males have thick, strongly curved mandibles, the wing-case markings run diagonally and the head is rough-textured. Odontolabis is centred on the islands of Southeast Asia, especially Sumatra; adults visit fermenting sap and live a few months, while larvae live in hardwood decayed to half-soil and take one to two years from hatching to pupation. Both stages are cold-sensitive. Some Odontolabis lay readily in commercial rhinoceros-beetle substrate, but this species, like O. lacordairei, is considered somewhat difficult. The BE-KUWA 2025 edition, under the spelling rudikin, gives 81.3mm captive and 81.0mm wild. In Japan specialist shops sell wild-caught and captive-bred stock.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Ludeking's shining stag beetle
The Ludeking's shining stag beetle lives Adults a few months (genus accounts); 1-2 years from hatching to pupation.
Size of the Ludeking's shining stag beetle
The Ludeking's shining stag beetle grows to Captive record 81.3mm, wild record 81.0mm.
Basic Info
Origin
Sumatra, Indonesia
Lifespan
Adults a few months (genus accounts); 1-2 years from hatching to pupation
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
- Wikipedia
- Plant Protection Station: Importing Scarabaeoidea (JA)
- Plant Protection Station: Importing live insects (JA)
- Ministry of the Environment: List of invasive alien species (JA)
- Species+ CITES query (no listing)
- BE-KUWA Certified Breeding Records (Mushi-sha, FY2025 edition PDF, JA)
- GBIF: Odontolabis ludekingi (Snellen van Vollenhoven, 1861) ／地域別の記録
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Odontolabis ludekingi (Snellen van Vollenhoven, 1861)
Synonyms: Lucanus ludekingi Snellen van Vollenhoven, 1861, Odontolabis ludekingi monticola Möllenkamp, 1906, Odontolabis ludekingi robustus Van Roon, 1906
Authority databases: GBIF · GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Many live foreign Scarabaeoidea (stag beetles, rhinoceros beetles, flower chafers and relatives) are quarantine pests whose import is banned under Japan's Plant Protection Act, and even importable species require a species-name certificate from a foreign government body under the Invasive Alien Species Act (entry only via designated airports, never by international post). Whether a species may enter must be checked with the Plant Protection Station in advance, so choose domestically bred stock and never release captive beetles.
Sources: Plant Protection Station: Importing Scarabaeoidea (JA) / Plant Protection Station: Importing live insects (JA) / Ministry of the Environment: List of invasive alien species (JA) / Species+ CITES query (no listing)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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