Pets have become an important part of the family for many people around the world. Many enjoy keeping pets and spending time with them, even willing to spend thousands of rupees on their care. But why do some people choose to keep insects and spend a lot of money to own them?
Can Stag Beetles Make You a Millionaire?
People are willing to spend thousands on this rare beetle. (Image: Unsplash)
While many people dislike insects, there are just as many who compete with others to own them. Especially, the craze for this species of beetle has attracted widespread interest as it can turn anyone into a millionaire overnight. This beetle measures between 2 to 3 inches and is considered one of the smallest, strangest, and rarest species on Earth.
Why Are Stag Beetles So Expensive?
For the average person, no one would spend even a penny on a small insect, but for this rare beetle, people are willing to shell out thousands of dollars. The Stag Beetle is a family of about 1,200 species in the Lucanidae family, currently classified into four subfamilies.
Its main identifying feature is the horns that grow from the black heads. (Image: Shutterstock).
This 5 cm (2 inch) beetle is considered one of the most expensive animals due to its uniqueness and rarity. Its main identifying feature is the horns that grow from its black head. Its average size ranges from 2 to 4.8 inches. A few years ago, a Japanese breeder sold his Stag Beetle for $89,000 (around Rs 6.5 lakh). Now people are ready to spend money on this.
Stag Beetles Do Not Eat Food
According to the National History Museum, adult stag beetles do not eat, but they drink sweet liquids such as tree sap and fluids from decaying fruit. They primarily rely on the energy reserves they built up while in the larval stage. Larval stag beetles eat dead wood, using their sharp mandibles to scrape through the fibrous surfaces in search of debris. Wood infected with white rot is particularly favored as it helps decompose the wood. Larvae also digest fungi and other organisms within the wood.
Their natural habitat includes wooded areas and they can also be found in hedgerows, traditional orchards, and urban areas, especially in parks and gardens with plenty of dead wood.
Interesting Facts About Stag Beetles
People love keeping this rare beetle as a pet. It is believed to be the largest beetle found on Earth, growing up to 8.5 cm. Additionally, many types of medicines are claimed to be made from this insect. The heads and thoraxes of these insects are glossy black, with chestnut-brown wings. Male stag beetles have large mandibles that resemble deer antlers. Females do not have such a large mouth but their mandibles are actually much stronger than those of the males and are often seen on the ground, as females typically search for places to lay eggs. Male stag beetles often use their antlers to compete with other males during mating season. They try to grab each other, and the winner will throw the loser to the ground.
Stag Beetle Lifespan
Most male stag beetles only live a few weeks after maturing. Warmer places are more beneficial for them, as many stag beetles die during winter. Even in cold places, these insects can survive in warm spots like compost heaps. Stag beetles complete a seven-year life cycle from egg to adulthood.
Stag beetles and their larvae are quite harmless. (Image: Shutterstock).
They spend most of their lives underground as larvae, only surfacing for a few weeks in the summer to find mates and reproduce. Stag beetles and their larvae are quite harmless.
Adults stay underground until the temperature reaches a certain level. They often emerge after warm summer rains when the ground is softer.
This Beetle Species Is Harmless, but Don’t Mess with Them
White stag beetles are harmless, but the jaws of the males can be enough to cause discomfort if provoked. The jaws of the females are a bit stronger and can bite, but they are not aggressive.
Stag Beetles Are Great for Parks, Woodlands, and Gardens
“Stag beetles play a vital role in the recycling and decomposition of dead wood, returning nutrients to the soil. Some smaller insects and fungi depend on their activities, especially the burrowing activities of the larvae in the wood. They also provide food for birds,” said Max Barclay, Senior Curator in charge of the beetle collection at the Museum.
How to Save the Declining Stag Beetle Population
Stag beetles play an important role in the recycling and decomposition of dead wood.
Stag beetle populations are declining, and if you truly want this species to survive, simply stop deforestation and habitat destruction, and provide dead wood in your garden. It not only helps create a useful stag beetle nursery but also supports many other types of insects and fungi. Stop using mulch or polythene, as newly emerged beetles can get trapped and die.
In urban areas, stag beetles are highly susceptible to being run over by cars. If you spot this rare insect on the road or sidewalk where they are likely to be run over or stepped on, move them to a safer location in nearby vegetation.
