Dorcus Alcides
The Dorcus Alcides inhabits Sumatra, Indonesia. Males can have long, short, or intermediate mandibles. The record for wild-caught males exceeds 100mm, and they are known for their exceptional aggressiveness. The power of their mandibles is incredibly strong—there are even accounts of them breaking a child’s bone. Care must be taken during pairing due to their strength. If a female is caught by the powerful mandibles of a male, she stands no chance. Hand-pairing is essential. If you choose not to hand-pair and house the male and female together for a few days, be prepared for the risks.
The beetles used for pairing should preferably be at least six months post-emergence. After pairing, place only the female in the egg-laying setup. The setup consists of finely fermented substrate with soft oviposition wood embedded in it. Although careful attention is needed for pairing, the egg-laying process itself is straightforward and should not pose any issues. One important aspect of raising Arcidens flat stag beetles is the temperature. These beetles live at altitudes of approximately 1500 meters, so they are not well-suited to Japan’s summer climate. While they are fairly resistant to cold, caution is needed in high temperatures, as anything above 30°C is dangerous.
If this condition is observed, the female should lay around 30 eggs within about a month and a half after being set up. Given their prolific nature, they may produce even more offspring. The lifespan of Arcidens flat stag beetles ranges from one to two years, with two years considered long-lived. Larvae can be raised successfully in both mushroom-based cultures and fermented substrate, with faster growth typically seen with mushroom-based cultures.
The larval period for males ranges from approximately 8 months to a year, depending on diet and temperature, while females typically take about six months. There are rumors that feeding softer food can promote the development of longer mandibles, while harder food may result in shorter mandibles, but this lacks substantial evidence. Whether to believe this is up to individual judgment.
Arcidens flat stag beetles are affordable, widely available, and easy to acquire. When you do obtain one, you’ll likely be impressed by the thickness of the pronotum. However, due to their strong mandibles and aggressive nature, they are not recommended for households with small children.
