Source: Wikimedia Commons
Occipitalis Saw Stag Beetle
BeginnerProsopocoilus occipitalis
A small to medium saw stag beetle ranging from the Philippines to the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. Seven subspecies are recognised and the captive record is 57.0mm for the nominate form. It is treated as a cheap, hardy beginner's species.
Difficulty
Beginner
Temperature
20〜24℃
Lifespan
About 8-10 months as adults, the general rule for foreign saw stag beetles
Size
Males 23.5-55.1mm (captive record 57.0mm, smallest captive record 19.0mm)
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Beetle jelly; larvae on fermented substrate or fungus bottles
About
Prosopocoilus occipitalis was described by Hope in 1845, and the specimen records aggregated in GBIF cluster in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The GBIF Backbone recognises the nominate form plus anoides, astericus, hideoi, masakoae, preangerensis and roepstorffi. A Philippine specimen on Wikimedia Commons is captioned 23.5-55.1mm. In the BE-KUWA 2025 edition the largest captive record is 57.0mm for the nominate form (Fujikawa Daisuke, registered 2021, wild 55.1mm), followed by astericus at 55.5mm and hideoi at 50.7mm; the same edition lists a smallest captive record of 19.0mm. Small to medium for a saw stag, it is hardy and inexpensive and is treated as a beginner's species. Care follows the standard routine for foreign saw stags at around 20-24C.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Occipitalis Saw Stag Beetle
The Occipitalis Saw Stag Beetle lives About 8-10 months as adults, the general rule for foreign saw stag beetles.
Size of the Occipitalis Saw Stag Beetle
The Occipitalis Saw Stag Beetle grows to Males 23.5-55.1mm (captive record 57.0mm, smallest captive record 19.0mm).
Temperature & humidity for the Occipitalis Saw Stag Beetle
The ideal temperature for the Occipitalis Saw Stag Beetle is 20〜24℃.
Basic Info
Origin
The Philippines, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and Java
Lifespan
Care Specifications
AggressiveSolitaryBreeding: Easy
Sources: Tsukiyono Kinokoen: Prosopocoilus giraffa rearing manual (general care for foreign saw stags) / BE-KUWA rearing records (2025 edition, Mushi-sha) / GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Breeding Records & Localities
Captive record (♂)
57 mm
Wild record (♂)
55.1 mm
Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition (nominate: captive 57.0 mm, Fujikawa Daisuke, registered 2021, wild 55.1 mm; astericus captive 55.5 mm, wild 46.1 mm; hideoi captive 50.7 mm, wild 41.6 mm; smallest captive record 19.0 mm, registered 2021)
Notable localities
PhilippinesSumatraMalay PeninsulaBorneoJava
Regional subspecies
- Prosopocoilus occipitalis occipitalis（Nominate subspecies）
- Prosopocoilus occipitalis astericus（Thomson, 1862）
- Prosopocoilus occipitalis hideoi（Fujita, 2010）
- Prosopocoilus occipitalis masakoae（Fujita, 2010）
- Prosopocoilus occipitalis anoides（Kriesche, 1920）
- Prosopocoilus occipitalis preangerensis（Oberthur & Houlbert, 1913）
- Prosopocoilus occipitalis roepstorffi
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
- Ministry of the Environment, Invasive Species Act: "Guidance for Those Importing Live Insects in Scarabaeoidea"
- CITES Appendix (checklist.cites.org)
- Tsukiyono Kinokoen: Prosopocoilus giraffa rearing manual (general care for foreign saw stags)
- BE-KUWA rearing records (2025 edition, Mushi-sha)
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Prosopocoilus occipitalis (Hope, 1845)
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
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.
Occipitalis Saw Stag Beetle Listings
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