Giraffe stag beetle of the stag beetle family has a wide range found throughout Asia, from India in the South to Indonesia in the Southeast. Their long jaws that are more than half of their body size resemble a giraffe’s neck, resulting in their name. Their huge size, makes them the largest beetle of their family.
Size: 119 mm (4.68 inches); the largest among the lot measuring up to 123 mm (4.83 inches) found in Southeast Asia.
Color: They are mostly brown, though the color may vary from black to brownish red.
Other Characteristic Features: They have enlarged and sharp jagged jaws.
They go through three instars and by the final stage, the giraffe stag beetle larvae appear white with an orange head. They develop strong jaws by then and mostly eat rotting wood.
Upon maturation, the larvae build a pupal chamber and mostly remain there throughout its pupa stage.
The small, white eggs have a bumpy texture.
| Adult lifespan | 12 – 15 months |
| Duration of larval stage | 7 – 14 months |
| Distribution | Throughout Asia from India to Indonesia |
| Habitat | Forests, near sandbanks |
| Common Predators | Birds, foxes, cats |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Mostly rotting wood |
Since they mostly feed on rotting wood, these beetles do not cause significant damage to plants.
Image Source: live.staticflickr.com, alchetron.com, abrowntks.weebly.com, 64.media.tumblr.com, media.gettyimages.com
Giraffe stag beetle of the stag beetle family has a wide range found throughout Asia, from India in the South to Indonesia in the Southeast. Their long jaws that are more than half of their body size resemble a giraffe’s neck, resulting in their name. Their huge size, makes them the largest beetle of their family.
Size: 119 mm (4.68 inches); the largest among the lot measuring up to 123 mm (4.83 inches) found in Southeast Asia.
Color: They are mostly brown, though the color may vary from black to brownish red.
Other Characteristic Features: They have enlarged and sharp jagged jaws.
They go through three instars and by the final stage, the giraffe stag beetle larvae appear white with an orange head. They develop strong jaws by then and mostly eat rotting wood.
Upon maturation, the larvae build a pupal chamber and mostly remain there throughout its pupa stage.
The small, white eggs have a bumpy texture.
| Adult lifespan | 12 – 15 months |
| Duration of larval stage | 7 – 14 months |
| Distribution | Throughout Asia from India to Indonesia |
| Habitat | Forests, near sandbanks |
| Common Predators | Birds, foxes, cats |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Mostly rotting wood |
Since they mostly feed on rotting wood, these beetles do not cause significant damage to plants.
Image Source: live.staticflickr.com, alchetron.com, abrowntks.weebly.com, 64.media.tumblr.com, media.gettyimages.com
