Rainbow stag beetle Coloring Pages

The Beetle That Shines in Rainbow Colors! Rainbow stag beetle

Just like its name says, the Rainbow stag beetle is a stag beetle that shines in beautiful rainbow colors. Depending on how the light hits its shiny body, it can look green, red, gold, blue, or purple. It looks just like a jewel, doesn't it?

Where do they live?

The Rainbow stag beetle lives in the mountains. But it doesn't live in Japan. It lives mainly in the mountains of a country called Australia. It often stays in warm areas. It licks tree sap and lays eggs inside fallen trees.

The difference between males and females

Male and female Rainbow stag beetles look a little different from each other.

• Male: He has a bigger body than the female, and he has cool, big jaws on his head. He uses these big jaws to fight other males over females!
• Female: She has a smaller body than the male, and her big jaws are shorter. She has lots of tiny dots on her wing covers.

How strong are its jaws?

Compared to other stag beetles and rhinoceros beetles, the Rainbow stag beetle does not have very strong jaws for pinching. But the power in its prickly legs is super strong, so it can hold on tight to trees! Touching it directly with your bare hands can sometimes hurt you, so be sure to wear plastic gloves when you touch it.

Life as a larva

Baby Rainbow stag beetles (larvae) grow inside decayed wood that has rotted and become soft, just like rhinoceros beetle larvae do. They eat this decayed wood and grow bigger and bigger. Soon, they turn into a pupa, and then they become a beautiful adult Rainbow stag beetle!

What is the Rainbow stag beetle's name?

The English name for the Rainbow stag beetle is Rainbow stag beetle or Phalacrognathus Muelleri. Rainbow means 虹, and stag beetle means クワガタムシ. Phalacrognathus comes from words that mean hairless and shiny, and Muelleri comes from the name of a German naturalist. Just like in Japanese, it got this name because its body is shiny and has colors just like a rainbow!

How to care for a Rainbow stag beetle

Rainbow stag beetles are often quiet and gentle, so you can keep a few of them together. Sometimes a Rainbow stag beetle can be aggressive, so please watch them closely. If you ever keep one, make sure it does not get too hot or too cold, and keep it at a good temperature. For food, store-bought jelly is recommended!

How to Choose Colors

It is so much fun to mix lots of different colors and make your Rainbow stag beetle coloring page look like a rainbow! Try coloring while imagining how its colors change when the light hits it.

• Basic Body Colors: A Rainbow stag beetle changes color depending on how you look at it. So try mixing lots of colors like green, red, blue, purple, and gold! For example, if you color the middle of its back green and change it to red or blue toward the edges, it will look like the real thing! Also, try drawing small dots on a female's body.
• Mandible Colors: Your male beetle will look extra cool if you make its big mandibles a slightly different color from its body. If you color them black or brown, it will look super strong!
• Leg Colors: If you color the legs nicely with black or dark brown, the body will look even prettier!
• Eye Colors: The eyes are small and shiny, so color them in neatly with black.

Let's Make It Look Shiny!

A Rainbow stag beetle's body is very smooth and shiny. Let's try to show that shiny feeling on your coloring page too!

• If you use colored pencils: If you press hard to color darkly, it is easy to make it look shiny! If you layer a light color over the dark parts, it will look even more sparkly!
• If you use crayons: If you rub a crayon a little hard, it will look glossy!
• Leave white spots: Imagine where the light shines on the body, and leave a few white spots. That will make it look like it is really glowing!

How to Make It Look 3D: Think About "Shadows" and "Light"!

When you color your Rainbow stag beetle coloring page, imagine that its body is round. Try coloring the places with shadows a little darker!

• Places with shadows: Where the legs connect, inside the mandibles, around the edges of the body, and between the head and chest.
• Places with light: Round parts like the middle of the back and the top of the chest. If you color these parts a bit lighter or leave white spots, it will look 3D!

Let's Color the Background!

• If you color the tree the Rainbow stag beetle is sitting on, or add some leaves, your beetle will stand out even more!
• If you use natural colors like brown and green for the tree and green for the leaves, it will look like it is in a real forest!
• If it is a night coloring page, use dark blue or black for the background. The beautiful colors of your Rainbow stag beetle will pop out and look super pretty!

Tips for Enjoying Your Coloring Page!

You do not have to stick to real colors! Feel free to color the prettiest Rainbow stag beetle you can imagine. Use lots of bright colors to create your very own beetle that looks like a shining jewel!