Species: Dorcus titanus yasuokai
Location: San Francisco, 766 Valencia St.

There are tough bugs, and then there are bugs that make other bugs reconsider their life choices. The Yasuokai Giant Stag Beetle isn't just large. It's the kind of large that comes with a reputation. In Japan, where stag beetles are taken seriously enough to sell for thousands of dollars and inspire their own collector subculture, Dorcus titanus yasuokai is known by one nickname: the Furious Stag Beetle. It earned that.

Those mandibles, curved, toothed, and nearly as long as the rest of its body, aren't for decoration. Males use them to settle disputes the old-fashioned way, grappling for territory and mating rights with a grip that, once locked on, does not let go. This is a beetle that commits. Native to the rainforests of Sumatra, males can reach up to 4 inches (105 millimeters) in length and spend up to a year as a larva quietly growing into something that will absolutely ruin your pencil if given the opportunity.

Despite all of this, the yasuokai is one of the most prized beetles in the collector world, kept as pets, bred for bloodline value, and sought after with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for sports cards or vintage wine. A particularly large specimen can fetch thousands. The biggest ones are treated like royalty.
And here's the thing: on a pinning board, none of that fury goes anywhere. What you're left with is the architecture, that glossy black armor, the extraordinary jaw structure, the sheer scale of the thing, preserved exactly as nature built it.

If you like your insects large, your beetles a little furious, and your natural history with a side of "I can't believe that's real," you're going to love this class.

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.