Saw Stag Beetle

Prosopocoilus inclinatus, the nokogiri (saw) stag beetle, is one of Japan's most widely distributed and beloved stag beetles, found throughout the country from Hokkaido to Kyushu. The species is named for the characteristic saw-like serrations on the inner edge of the male's mandibles, which range in length from 25–70 mm body length. In larger males, mandibles curve dramatically, forming the so-called "water buffalo" morphology. Body coloration is reddish-brown to dark brown. Adults are nocturnal, gathering at sap flows of oak trees in summer. Captive temperature of 20–28°C is suitable, and the species is considered one of the easiest stag beetles to keep, making it ideal for beginners. Egg-laying occurs directly in soft fermented substrate packed deeply into the enclosure; the larval period lasts 1–2 years. Adults live approximately 2–4 months, though some individuals overwinter. Adults are fed beetle jelly. The nokogiri stag beetle's accessibility and dramatic mandible shape have made it the most popular stag beetle among children and beginning hobbyists in Japan.

Beetle jelly