Source: Wikimedia Commons
Taurus Flat Stag Beetle
BeginnerDorcus taurus
A mid-sized flat stag beetle with a comb of yellow hairs on the underside of the mandibles. Ranges from the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Borneo, Java and the Philippines, with mandible shape varying by locality. Bred like the Japanese flat stag; beginner-friendly.
Difficulty
Beginner
Temperature
18〜25℃
Lifespan
Adults 1.5-2.5 years in captivity
Size
Males 50-65mm, females 35-45mm
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Beetle jelly (adults); kinshi bottles or fermented substrate (larvae)
About
The Taurus flat stag beetle (Dorcus taurus) is a mid-sized flat stag beetle ranging from the Malay Peninsula through Sumatra, Borneo and Java to Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines. Its hallmark is a comb of yellow hairs on the underside of the mandibles, hence the Japanese alias Kushihige-hirata. Long- and short-mandibled forms occur regardless of body size, and mandible shape differs by locality, so several subspecies are recognised besides the nominate form, including cribriceps, gypaetus, jampeanus and borneensis. Males measure 50-65mm and females 35-45mm; the BE-KUWA 2025 captive record is 71.0mm from Borneo (2020). Many populations live at altitude, so keep at 18-25C and hold summer temperatures at or below 23C. Females lay readily in well-fermented substrate or in logs, larvae reach adulthood in 10-12 months (males) or 6-10 months (females), and adults live 1.5-2.5 years. Wild-caught stock from Indonesian shipments is prone to locality mix-ups and hybridisation between subspecies, so starting from a gravid female is recommended.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Taurus Flat Stag Beetle
The Taurus Flat Stag Beetle lives Adults 1.5-2.5 years in captivity.
Size of the Taurus Flat Stag Beetle
The Taurus Flat Stag Beetle grows to Males 50-65mm, females 35-45mm.
Temperature & humidity for the Taurus Flat Stag Beetle
The ideal temperature for the Taurus Flat Stag Beetle is 18〜25℃.
Basic Info
Origin
Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, the Philippines (Mindanao, Palawan etc.), Tanahjampea
Care Specifications
Semi-aggressiveSolitaryBreeding: Easy
Sources: Hakurai Rokkyakudo: rearing Dorcus taurus / Tsukimushi: Dorcus taurus profile / Oushiya blog: breeding Dorcus taurus / COLORS flat stag beetle catalogue
Breeding Records & Localities
Captive record (♂)
71 mm
Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition (Taurus, Borneo: captive 71.0mm, Samako, 2020)
Notable localities
Borneo (Sabah, North Kalimantan)Sumatra (Bengkulu)Malay Peninsula (Kelantan)JavaPhilippines (Mindanao)PalawanTanahjampea
Regional subspecies
- Dorcus taurus taurus（nominate subspecies） — Sumatra, Malay Peninsula
- Dorcus taurus cribriceps — Philippines (Luzon, Negros, Mindoro, Mindanao)
- Dorcus taurus gypaetus — Java
- Dorcus taurus jampeanus — Tanahjampea (south of Sulawesi)
- Dorcus taurus borneensis — Borneo
- Dorcus taurus moinieri
BE-KUWA 2025 lists records by locality: Borneo 71.0mm (2020), Philippines 69.7mm (2022), nominate 65.7mm (2023), Java 63.4mm (2017), Palawan 60.1mm (2021), Tanahjampea 57.7mm (2021). English Wikipedia lists eight subspecies including minor and subtaurus.
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 (Japan): Importing live Scarabaeoidea beetles
- CITES Appendices (species not listed)
- Hakurai Rokkyakudo: rearing Dorcus taurus
- Tsukimushi: Dorcus taurus profile
- Oushiya blog: breeding Dorcus taurus
- COLORS flat stag beetle catalogue
- BE-KUWA certified breeding records (Mushi-sha, 2025 edition)
- Wikipedia (en): Serrognathus taurus
- GBIF
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Dorcus taurus (Fabricius, 1801)
Synonyms: Serrognathus taurus
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Plant Protection Act: Live Scarabaeoidea beetles (rhinoceros, stag and flower beetles) may be imported into Japan only with a species-name certificate issued by the exporting government under the Invasive Alien Species Act, and only through Narita, Chubu, Kansai, Fukuoka or Kagoshima airports. This species is not a designated invasive alien species and can be imported with the certificate.
Sources: Ministry of the Environment (Japan): Importing live Scarabaeoidea beetles / CITES Appendices (species not listed)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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