How much do beetles cost?

Japanese rhinoceros beetles cost 300-1,000 yen, giant stag beetles 2,000-30,000 yen, and Hercules beetles 5,000-50,000+ yen depending on species and size.

Can beginners start keeping insects?

Japanese rhinoceros beetles and saw stag beetles are easy to keep and great for beginners. A basic container and beetle jelly from a 100-yen shop is all you need to start.

How long do beetles live?

Adult rhinoceros beetles live 2-3 months, saw stag beetles 3-6 months. Giant stag beetles can live 2-5 years as adults, offering years of enjoyment.

What are the benefits of raising larvae?

Larvae are cheaper than adults and you get to experience the thrill of eclosion. Raising large specimens using fungus bottles or substrate is rewarding and educational.

What should I check when buying insects?

Check that tarsi (feet) are intact, the insect is active, and there are no mites. Choose specimens with documented size and lineage information.

Insect Encyclopedia — 75 Species Directory

Encyclopedia of popular beetles and stag beetles with care guides, traits, and breeding methods.

Featured Insect

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Showing 6 of 75 species

Akaashi Stag Beetle

Dorcus rubrofemoratus

Intermediate

A medium stag beetle with reddish legs and underside. Common in beech forests around 1,000 m; prefers slightly cool conditions but is fairly easy to keep.

NativeRed legsCool-loving

Chibi Stag Beetle

Figulus binodulus

Intermediate

A tiny stag beetle only 1-2 cm long. With almost no difference between sexes, it shows subsocial behavior — adults live with their larvae inside rotten wood. It also eats animal matter.

NativeTinySubsocial

Himeoo Stag Beetle

Dorcus montivagus

Advanced

Japan's most alpine stag beetle, living in the beech belt at 1,000-1,600 m. It gnaws willow twigs to draw sap. Requires cool temperatures and is difficult to breed — for advanced keepers.

NativeAlpineNeeds cool temps

Kokuwa Stag Beetle

Dorcus rectus

Beginner

The most common small stag beetle in Japan's woodlands. Hardy, overwinters as an adult and lives for years — an ideal beginner species.

NativeBeginner-friendlyOverwinters

Nebuto Stag Beetle

Aegus laevicollis

Intermediate

A small stag beetle with coarse longitudinal ridges on the elytra. Found from Honshu to Okinawa. It lays into fine substrate made from red-rotten pine, so breeding takes a little know-how.

NativeRidged elytraSubstrate-laying

Suji Stag Beetle

Dorcus striatipennis

Beginner

A small stag beetle with longitudinal grooves on the elytra. Resembles the kokuwa but small males and females show clear striations. A hardy, common species from lowlands to high mountains.

NativeStriated elytraBeginner-friendly

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Insect FAQ

How much do beetles cost?: Japanese rhinoceros beetles cost 300-1,000 yen, giant stag beetles 2,000-30,000 yen, and Hercules beetles 5,000-50,000+ yen depending on species and size.
Can beginners start keeping insects?: Japanese rhinoceros beetles and saw stag beetles are easy to keep and great for beginners. A basic container and beetle jelly from a 100-yen shop is all you need to start.
How long do beetles live?: Adult rhinoceros beetles live 2-3 months, saw stag beetles 3-6 months. Giant stag beetles can live 2-5 years as adults, offering years of enjoyment.
What are the benefits of raising larvae?: Larvae are cheaper than adults and you get to experience the thrill of eclosion. Raising large specimens using fungus bottles or substrate is rewarding and educational.
What should I check when buying insects?: Check that tarsi (feet) are intact, the insect is active, and there are no mites. Choose specimens with documented size and lineage information.