The King Stag Beetle is popular among collectors around the world. These beetles are members of a larger class of beetles that belong to the family Lucanidae, which is the group associated with all Stag Beetles.
The King Stag Beetle is native to the rain forests of Northern Australia. King Stag Beetles are usually found on the forest floor. They tend to live and breed in decayed red cedar logs, and they feed on running sap. The King Stag Beetle is nocturnal, and they are usually seen flying just after dusk. These beetles may be attracted to lights during the night and can sometimes be seen moving towards them. They are not common in their native habit, and this may be due in part to over-collection because of the high demand in the pet trade. Stag Beetles are one of the most popular types of beetles in the hobby, and many maintain that the King Stag is the most beautiful of them all. King Stag Beetles are popular among experienced and novice hobbyists alike.
The King Stag Beetle's coloration is unusual for a Stag Beetle. The majority of Stag Beetles have black or reddish-brown coloration. The King Stag is a striking shade of green. Their coloration shimmers and is especially beautiful in the sunlight. The male King Stag Beetle can be distinguished from the female by its larger size. Males can range from 3.5 to 6.0 centimeters on average, though specimens are large as 7 centimeters have been documented. Females are significantly smaller ranging between 2.5 to 4.0 centimeters on average. Stag Beetles are so named because they possess large mandibles, which are said to resemble the antlers of a stag. It should be noted that these mandibles are significantly larger on the male than on the female, and this is another easy way to distinguish between males and females.
The King Stag Beetle is currently protected in its native Australia. There are now strict laws pertaining to collection of this beetle in the wild. It is currently illegal to ship these beetles out of Australia without proper permits. Permits are mainly granted for research and breeding purposes. Luckily captive breeding programs are quite successful.
The King Stag Beetle is bred regularly in captivity, and is not considered difficult.
