Hexarthrius mandibularis

Hexarthrius mandibularis is one of the world's largest stag beetle.^[1] It belongs to the tribe Lucanini, in the family Lucanidae.^[2]

Hexarthrius mandibularis
Hexarthrius mandibularis sumatranus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Scarabaeiformia
Family:	Lucanidae
Genus:	Hexarthrius
Species:	H. mandibularis
Binomial name
Hexarthrius mandibularis (Mizunuma, 1994)

This beetle has a dull, dark, brick reddish body. Both the legs and antennae are blackish. The most notable characteristic are the large, antler-like mandibles. These have small teeth running down the inside edge, with one large, forward-pointing pair located approximately a third of the way down from the tips. The tips are forked inward somewhat.

During the larval stage, Hexarthrius mandibularis lives in rotten hardwood, feeding on it. Later, during the imago stage, it consumes tree juice.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies, both native to Indonesia:^[3]

• Hexarthrius mandibularis mandibularis Deyrolle, 1881^[4]

This subspecies grows to a maximum length of 115 mm. It is indigenous to Kalimantan.

• Hexarthrius mandibularis sumatranus Mizunuma, 1994^[5]

This subspecies grows to a maximum length of 118.5 mm. It is indigenous to Sumatra.