Rainbow Stag Beetle
Scientific Name
Phalacrognathus muelleri
Conservation Status
This species has not yet been assessed for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.
This animal cannot visit your location for a presentation.
This animal is not used for Wilbur’s Wildlife event displays.
This animal is not on show during private zoo tours.
Our Animals
Wilbur’s Wildlife is not currently home to any rainbow stag beetles. An Australia wide shortage of captive bred rainbow stag beetles occured in 2018 which led to a number of facilities not being able to acquire them that year. We are hoping to receive some new rainbow stag beetles in late January 2019.
Appearance
The rainbow stag beetle is brightly coloured with a metallic looking back which is coloured with greens, blues and reds. Their mandible and legs are coloured black. They have six legs.
Young are a larva with a segmented body which is white and a facial patch which is orange.
Males are larger than females. The male measures between 24 and 70mm (0.9-2.8in) while female’s measure 23 to 46mm (0.9 to 1.8in).
A range of factors during the development of the larvae lead to the large variation in size. The larger beetles have larger mandibles making them better at fending off other males and likely leading to better breeding success.
Lifespan
Rainbow stag beetles live for up to 18 months.
Diet
The rainbow stag beetle is a herbivore. They feed upon decaying wood as both adults and larvae. As adults they supplement their diet with fruit, sap and nectar.
Habitat
Australia is the native home of the rainbow stag beetle. Here they are found solely in the rainforests and sclerophyll forests of north-eastern Queensland.
Reproduction
This species can breed throughout the year. A female stag beetle is capable of laying up to 50 eggs which are laid singly. These are laid into rotting wood and hatch after 10 to 14 days. Across this period the egg doubles from the original size and the larvae becomes visible.
The rainbow stag beetle spends 2 months as a larva feeding upon the wood in which they were born. They moult three times as a larva before becoming an adult by pupating.
The pupation takes place in a pupal cell which they build over a week. The pupa spends their time developing before emerging by breaking out of the pupal cell using their mandibles. When they emerge their wings are soft and white which take a week to colour up.
From day one they are independent.It takes four months for the adult to be sexually mature.
Behaviour
This species is able to fly and it is when they do this that they are most often spotted.
Quick Facts
The mulleri portion of the scientific name was given to this species by Sir William Macleay who discovered it in honour of Baron Ferdinand von muller who was a botanist with the Victorian government.
Rainbow stag beetles are also known as the magnificent, Mueller’s or king stag beetle.
The rainbow stag beetle is a popular pet both in Australia and oversea’s especially in Japan.