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Takara Flat Stag Beetle
IntermediateDorcus titanus takaraensis
A subspecies of Dorcus titanus found only on Takarajima and Kodakarajima in the Tokara Islands. Thick-bodied with short, stout mandibles; small among Japanese subspecies but prized for its chunky build.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperature
20〜26℃
Lifespan
Adults 1-3 years
Size
Males 45-75 mm (including captive; wild up to 70.1 mm) / females 20-35 mm
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Tree sap, beetle jelly
About
The Takara flat stag (Dorcus titanus takaraensis) is a subspecies of Dorcus titanus from Takarajima and Kodakarajima in the Tokara Islands of Kagoshima, described in 1985. Males measure 45-75 mm and females 20-35 mm; the BE-KUWA captive record is 75.0 mm (2006) and the wild record 70.1 mm. The body is thick and deep and the mandibles short and stout, giving it a distinctively robust build among the Ryukyu flat stags. The Tokara Islands are a chain of volcanic islands between Kyushu and Amami where each island has evolved its own subspecies or populations, and this is one of them. Ecology matches other flat stags: it gathers at sap in broadleaf forest and is nocturnal, hiding in hollows and under rotten wood. Females lay in the buried base of dead trees or under fallen logs; larvae take 1-2 years and adults live 1-3 years. At 20-26 C it breeds with logs and fermented substrate, but it is very aggressive and males often kill females, so keep singly except for pairing. As a population endemic to tiny islands, be mindful of collecting pressure and never release beetles.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Takara Flat Stag Beetle
The Takara Flat Stag Beetle lives Adults 1-3 years.
Size of the Takara Flat Stag Beetle
The Takara Flat Stag Beetle grows to Males 45-75 mm (including captive; wild up to 70.1 mm) / females 20-35 mm.
Temperature & humidity for the Takara Flat Stag Beetle
The ideal temperature for the Takara Flat Stag Beetle is 20〜26℃.
Basic Info
Origin
Japan (Takarajima and Kodakarajima, Tokara Islands, Kagoshima)
Care Specifications
AggressiveSolitaryBreeding: Easy
Sources: beetlebreeding.ch - The Breeding/Rearing of Dorcus titanus palawanicus by Kay (species-level guidance for D. titanus) / Dorcus titanus - Wikipedia (JA)
Breeding Records & Localities
Captive record (♂)
75 mm
Wild record (♂)
70.1 mm
Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition (Takara flat stag, captive 75.0 mm, 白土裕之 2006 / wild 70.1 mm, 定木良介; projected maximum 82 mm)
Notable localities
Takarajima (Tokara Islands, Kagoshima)Kodakarajima (Tokara Islands, Kagoshima)
Regional subspecies
- Dorcus titanus takaraensis — Takarajima and Kodakarajima
A small, thick-bodied subspecies. The 75.0 mm captive record has stood since 2006.
Generation codes
- WD
- Wild-caught
- WF1
- Offspring of a wild-caught female
- F1〜
- Captive generations (same locality)
- CBF1
- Cross-locality captive-bred (reset)
Sources: BE-KUWA Certified Breeding Records (Mushi-sha, FY2025 edition PDF, JA) /
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.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Dorcus titanus takaraensis Fujita & Ichikawa, 1985
Synonyms: Serrognathus titanus takaraensis
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Sources: CITES Appendix (checklist.cites.org)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Takara Flat Stag Beetle Listings
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