Alcides Stag Beetle

Dorcus alcides, the Alcides flat stag beetle, is a large stag beetle native to Sumatra, Indonesia, comparable in size to the Palawan stag beetle among Dorcus species. Adults reach 40–100 mm in body length. The species is notable for its pronounced mandible dimorphism: males occur in distinct short-tooth and long-tooth forms, each with its own distinctive appeal for collectors. Body coloration is a deep glossy black, with the broad, flattened body form characteristic of flat stag beetles. Optimal captive temperature is 22–26°C. A large enclosure with both hardwood logs and fermented substrate accommodates both oviposition preferences—females lay eggs in either medium. Larvae develop well in fungal substrate bottles or fermented substrate. Adults live approximately 1–2 years. The dual appeal of targeting both mandible forms in selective breeding programs, combined with impressive maximum size, makes D. alcides a popular advanced species among Dorcus enthusiasts.

Insect jelly