Species: Odontolabis celebensis
Location: San Francisco, 766 Valencia St.

Stag beetles in general are some of our favorites. It’s kind of hard not to love them. What’s cooler than a giant set of protruding jaws used for wrestling? Nothing when you really think about it. The Celebes Stag Beetle (Odontolabis celebensis) not only has a cool set of jaws but also has a neat name from ye yonder years.

Speaking of which, did you know that Sulawesi was once called Celebes? To be honest, we didn’t until we started researching this beetle. As you might have deduced, the Celebes beetle is from Sulawesi but carries around the OG title. For some reason, that adds a certain amount of swagger in our minds to its already tough-guy attitude, and these beetles are definitely tough guys.

Like most stag beetles, the males use their jaws to wrestle each other for mates, but this isn’t a three-tap ring. They do their dueling high in the treetops, and the loser gets thrown off onto the forest floor. It’s kinda like Hell in a Cell, but for beetles.

These beetles also exhibit sexual dimorphism, with the males getting the significantly larger jaws while the females have a more modest pair. Don’t let that fool you, though. The females actually have a stronger bite force than the males.

This is just a spicy beetle species. If you want to know more about arboreal fight clubs and biting your rivals, this is the class for you.

About the class:
In this hands-on, two-hour class, you will learn the full process of beetle pinning, from hydration to pinning and preservation. Our expert instructor will guide you step by step, and you will use a Paxton Gate spreading kit to transform your beetle into a preserved specimen you will get to take home and show off.

Inside each kit, you will receive:

• 1 Box of entomology pins
• 1 Anchor pin
• 4 Strips vellum paper
• Forceps
• Pinning board
  
• Instruction pamphlet

Important Details:

Classes will be held at 766 Valencia St., San Francisco.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Cancellations must be made at least 72 hours before the class to receive store credit, redeemable for merchandise or future classes.
Pre-registration is required, as materials must be prepared for each student and space is very limited. Please arrive promptly at the start time. Students are encouraged to bring lunch or snacks.