Stag Beetle Vs Rhino Beetle: What Are The 5 Key Differences?

If you are considering getting a beetle as a pet, you should know all about the choices you have. In this article, we compare stag beetle vs rhino beetle on the five main points of dissimilarity.

The idea of having insects as pets is becoming popular. People love having tiny creatures as pets who look amazing and are a joy to watch.

Most bugs do not require much attention from your end, and they don’t occupy a large space in your home.

Moreover, feeding them is easy, and they typically don’t seek as much attention as dogs and other common pets.

Speaking of insects as pets, stag beetles and rhino beetles are two of the biggest names on the list. People pay a lot of money to acquire exotic species of these beetles.

If you are thinking of giving it a try, it is wise to understand the differences between stag beetles and rhino beetles, and we will help make your choice easier in this article.

What is a Stag Beetle?

Stag beetles are a family of (mostly) big insects with large mandibles. These jaws can sometimes be as big as the beetle’s body (as in the case of giant stag beetles).

Because of their disproportionate size, they are sometimes compared to the antlers of a stag.

These beetles have a glossy back with a tough exoskeleton and a pair of brown-colored wings.

The males are bigger than the females and are usually 1.37-2.95 inches; the female stag beetles usually grow from 1.18-1.96 inches.

You can often find the larger males wrestling each other, using their mandibles to impress the females for mating.

Female beetles mostly stay on the ground, searching for suitable spots to lay eggs.

What Is a Rhino Beetle?

The Rhino beetle is one of the biggest insects in the United States. These have a sturdy, fearsome appearance and are also commonly known as Hercules beetles here.

They are found in different body colors, but usually, the females are blackish-brown.

As the name suggests, they have large horns that the males use to fight each to earn mating rights.

The males are huge, and the biggest beetles can be around 7 inches long! Many of these beetles have distinct spots on their elytra.

What Are The Similarities Between The Two?

Stag beetles and rhino beetles are often compared to each other because of their diet, habits, and similar body structures. Here are some of the things that are common to both species.

• The males have horns and mandibles that they use to wrestle other males to impress the females and earn mating rights.
• Both beetles in the larval stage rely on dead wood, tree sap, and decaying fruits to fulfill their diets.
• Both species have similar boy structures; the bodies are segmented with a tough exoskeleton and wings.

Key Differences

Despite the number of similarities mentioned above, both these insects are very different from each other. In the upcoming sections, we will discuss these differences in detail.

#1. What do they look like?

The other most visible difference in appearance is the structure of the horn and the mandibles.

Stag beetles have mandibles placed horizontally, but rhino beetles have massive horns jutting forward from their head. A few shorter horns in the same region accompany th central horn.

#2. Which is bigger?

A fully grown rhino beetle can be quite bigger than a stag beetle.

Fully grown larger species of Japanese rhinoceros beetle and Hercules beetles can easily reach 7 inches in length, while the larger species of stag beetles can grow up to 5 inches at best.

Also, due to their enormous size, rhino beetles are usually heavier than stag beetle.

The horns of the rhino beetles are quite big, and they can be almost 1/3rd of their body size.

Lastly, rhino beetles can lift really heavy weights (850 times their size) – they are much better lifters than stag beetles.

#3. What do they eat?

Both of these insects are similar when it comes to eating habits. Both beetle larvae are known for consuming dead and decaying wood.

In fact, the females prefer to lay eggs near areas with an abundance of dead wood.

Both species eat a lot during the larval stage to build fat storage in the body. Once they become adults, they rely on the stored fats to survive.

In rare cases, you can spot these adults feeding on tree sap.

#4. Where do they live?

The two species are present almost everywhere. Giant stag beetles can be spotted in the U.S.; the rainbow stag beetles are from Australia and Japan. A few others are commonly seen scurrying around Southern Asia, the UK, and other parts of Europe.

The Hercules beetle usually lives in areas of Central America and South America.

Wooden areas with a lot of decaying wood are the ideal habitat for both these insects to grow.

They can also thrive in grasslands and deserts. Because they are easy to create a home for, people love to keep them as pets.

#5. Which family of insects do they belong to?

While appearance-wise, the two insects look similar, they are from completely different insect families.

The Rhino beetles belong to Dynastinae subfamily, which itself is part of the larger family of Scarabaeidae. 

There are 30,000 beetles under the Scarabaeidae family, with all having similar characteristics: scalloped legs and three-segmented antennae.

You will be fascinated to know that there are 1,500 species of rhino beetles.

Stag beetles are a part of the Lucanidae family and belong to the Lampriminae, Syndesinae, and Aesalinae subfamilies. There are around 1,200 species of these insects worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

Stag beetles and rhino beetles are highly popular pets. People pay good money to acquire these beetles, and why not? 

They do not hurt humans and can be a lot of fun to watch as they scurry about their lives. 

Since both have similar habits and traits, it is crucial to understand the significant differences in size, feeding habits, and suitable habitats if you want to keep them as pets. 

Remember having proper about your pets will help to keep them healthy and safe.

Thank you for reading.