
AI-generated image
Trypoxylus dichotomus tsuchiyai
A subspecies confined to Kuchinoerabujima. It is smaller and broader than the mainland form, with very short hairs on the pronotum and elytra that some individuals lack almost entirely, and the male's elytra are smooth and strongly glossy.
Trypoxylus dichotomus tsuchiyai is endemic to Kuchinoerabujima in the Osumi Islands and was described by Shinji Nagai in 2006. The Japanese Wikipedia gives males as 33.9-48.8 mm excluding the head horn, up to 50.5 mm, and females as 31.6-43.6 mm, while total length including the male head horn runs to 42-78 mm. Body width is 17.5-26.4 mm in males and 16.9-23.2 mm in females. Both sexes average smaller and shorter than the mainland form and are correspondingly broader. The hairs on the centre and front margin of the male's pronotum and elytra are very short, and some individuals have almost none, so the elytra look smoother and glossier than in the mainland form. The male head horn tends to be short and the thoracic horn slender, though some authors regard the difference from the mainland form as slight. Adults gather at the sap of Machilus. The subspecific name honours the collector Toshiyuki Tsuchiya.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Tsuchiya's Rhinoceros Beetle lives 1-3 months as an adult.
The Tsuchiya's Rhinoceros Beetle grows to Males 33.9-48.8mm (excluding the head horn), females 31.6-43.6mm.
Origin
Japan (Kuchinoerabujima in the Osumi Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture)
Lifespan
1-3 months as an adult
Size
Males 33.9-48.8mm (excluding the head horn), females 31.6-43.6mm
Wild record (♂)
71.8 mm
Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition, large-size rhinoceros beetle records (Tsuchiya: wild 71.8 mm, Takashi Tsukamoto, 2013; dream maximum 80 mm)
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: Trypoxylus dichotomus tsuchiyai Nagai, 2006
Synonyms: Allomyrina dichotoma tsuchiyai
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Sources: CITES Appendix (checklist.cites.org)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Find listings for this species
Temperature
20〜28℃
Humidity
60〜80%
Adults take sap of Machilus and other trees, plus beetle jelly; larvae feed on leaf mould
No published figures for rearing temperature or humidity could be found for this subspecies, so none are given. As with the mainland form, never let the substrate freeze solid, and note that constant warmth through the winter brings the beetles on early and produces out-of-season adults.
Breeding is done in an egg-laying set of packed fermented substrate. The larvae eat leaf mould and will not touch living wood or leaves that have not begun to break down. For the mainland form in central Japan, about 15 days are reported from hatching to the second instar, about 35 days to the third, and 150-200 days in the third instar, but no measured figures are available for this subspecies.
Males fight with their horns, so keep adults apart. The subspecies is endemic to Kuchinoerabujima and must not be housed or crossed with the mainland form or with subspecies from other islands.
For about two weeks after eclosion the beetle stays underground without feeding before coming to the surface. Adults live one to three months, a span that depends heavily on temperature and food, and they do not overwinter as adults.
It is an island endemic with a very narrow range. Do not treat beetles without locality data as belonging to it, and do not release captive stock into the wild. The 2025 edition of BE-KUWA lists only a wild record for this subspecies; no captive record is registered.
Intermediate. This is an intermediate-level species. Some prior experience and knowledge of environmental management are recommended.
The average lifespan of Tsuchiya's Rhinoceros Beetle is 1-3 months as an adult. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.
Tsuchiya's Rhinoceros Beetle typically reaches Males 33.9-48.8mm (excluding the head horn), females 31.6-43.6mm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.
Tsuchiya's Rhinoceros Beetle feeds on: Adults take sap of Machilus and other trees, plus beetle jelly; larvae feed on leaf mould. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Tsuchiya's Rhinoceros 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 16, 2026
What BE-KUWA lists for this subspecies is a wild record; no captive record is registered. The figure is total length including the head horn.
Generation codes