A Little Beetle Story as Winter Draws Near
Today's post is a little different from our usual home-related topics. I'd like to share something that recently brought me a little burst of excitement.
I have a six-year-old son, and ever since he was born, I'd had a feeling that one day he would come home with a frog or a bug and ask to keep it.
Well, that day finally arrived.
Last year, in 2025, my son got his very own giant stag beetle at the Netsuokuri festival in Fukumitsu.
“I'll take care of it myself!”
That was the promise, at least. But as many parents will probably recognize, looking after it soon became Mum's job. And just like that, a year went by.
One day, while faithfully carrying out my beetle-care duties, I noticed we had run out of beetle jelly and headed to the shop for more. A chance encounter there led to us being given Hercules beetle larvae—the kind of beetle so many young bug lovers dream of having.
I'd never raised a rhinoceros beetle before, so I turned to the internet. And that was the beginning of our Hercules beetle adventure.
April: Our Larvae Come Home
I was told to keep the male in a larger container so that his long horn would have enough room to develop without breaking as he became an adult. So I bought a bigger enclosure and moved him in.
Mum was startled by the size of the larva. My son was delighted.
It was much bigger than I'd expected! Looking back, that was probably the most nerve-racking part of the whole experience.
After that, there wasn't much to do apart from misting the soil whenever it dried out. I'd gently peek inside, wondering where they were hiding, and keep a quiet eye on them.
And so the months passed…
By mid-September, I was starting to worry: “It's going to get cold soon. Will they be all right?” Then, at last, the female emerged from the soil!
A few days later, she was happily tucking into her beetle jelly and moving around full of energy.
But goodness, she was big! And strong! And those claws were sharp! When she gripped my arm, they left red scratches behind.
Then, two weeks later…
It was the male's turn!
What an impressive sight!
To think that such a large grub could transform into this incredible creature. Nature really is amazing.
I'd never taken much of an interest in beetles before, but seeing one in person completely won me over.
Now I'll do my best to help them enjoy as long a life as possible!
