
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Dorcus ritsemae
A giant stag beetle spread across the islands of Southeast Asia, with the greatest regional variation in the group. Subspecies from Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Mindanao and elsewhere are traded by locality. Hardy and long-lived.
Ritsema's giant stag beetle (Dorcus ritsemae) is spread across the islands and peninsulas of Southeast Asia: Java, Sumatra, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, Thailand, Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines, and Sulawesi. Until 1998 it went by the name D. parryi, so the name Parry's stag beetle persists in Japan. Isolated populations have diverged, giving the greatest regional variation in the group, with seven subspecies: the nominate form in central-eastern Java, volscens in Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand and Malaysia, setsuroi in Mindanao, curvus in Palawan and toraja in north-central Sulawesi. Males measure 28.2-79.0mm and females 29.3-41.5mm. Larvae take 6-24 months depending on conditions, and adults live 2-3 years. Rearing follows D. hopei and is easy. Room temperature works, but keep summers below 30C; activity slows under 18C. BE-KUWA 2025 lists captive records by locality; the largest is 79.0mm from Mindanao (2005). Because subspecies differ in form, keep locality labels and avoid crossing.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Ritsema's Giant Stag Beetle lives Adults 2-3 years.
The Ritsema's Giant Stag Beetle grows to Males 28.2-79.0mm, females 29.3-41.5mm.
The ideal temperature for the Ritsema's Giant Stag Beetle is 18℃.
Origin
Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Thailand, Philippines (Mindanao, Palawan), Sulawesi
Sources: Beetle Farm: keeping adult Dorcus / Beetle Farm: rearing Q&A / Wikipedia (Dorcus ritsemae, ja)
Captive record (♂)
79 mm
Wild record (♂)
75.3 mm
Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition (Dorcus ritsemae, Mindanao, captive 79.0 mm, 高橋勇太 2005; wild max 75.3 mm). Others: volscens 78.6 mm IDC 2024, central Sulawesi 76.5 mm IDC 2024, Palawan 75.0 mm 上亟健介 2012, nominate 74.5 mm IDC 2025, western Java 74.5 mm IDC 2025, Indochina 72.1 mm IDC 2025, southern Sulawesi 65.6 mm 上亟健介 2007
Notable localities
Regional subspecies
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.
Accepted name: Dorcus ritsemae Oberthür & Houlbert, 1914
Synonyms: Dorcus parryi (1998年までの旧称)
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / MOE Japan: import of Scarabaeoidea beetles
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Find listings for this species
Lifespan
Adults 2-3 years
Size
Males 28.2-79.0mm, females 29.3-41.5mm
Temperature
18℃
Humidity
60〜80%
Beetle jelly; larvae on fungus bottles or fermented substrate
Room temperature works. Keep summers below 30C; activity slows under 18C. For winter breeding keep at least 20C.
Eggs are laid in decaying logs or fermented substrate; rear larvae on fungus bottles. Larvae take 6-24 months.
House each sex singly; never keep males together. Cohabit only for pairing.
Adults live 2-3 years. Larval period is 6-24 months depending on conditions.
Avoid extreme dryness and stuffiness. Seven subspecies are traded by locality, so never mix subspecies or localities.
Beginner. This is a beginner-friendly species. No special equipment or experience is required, and it can be kept successfully with basic care setup.
The ideal temperature for Ritsema's Giant Stag Beetle is 18℃. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.
The average lifespan of Ritsema's Giant Stag Beetle is Adults 2-3 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.
Ritsema's Giant Stag Beetle typically reaches Males 28.2-79.0mm, females 29.3-41.5mm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.
Ritsema's Giant Stag Beetle feeds on: Beetle jelly; larvae on fungus bottles or fermented substrate. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Ritsema's Giant Stag 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 15, 2026
Seven subspecies are known; only the five with distributions confirmed on Japanese Wikipedia are listed.
Generation codes