Want to catch a rainbow stag in Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Here’s how to do it.
Bugs are a big deal in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There are 80 different species you can collect, with some of them only coming out during specific months.
Since we’ve just arrived in summer (at least, according to New Horizons), that means we have a bunch of new arrivals for you to whip your net at. One of those just happens to be a highly prized specimen among bug collectors and enthusiasts: the coveted rainbow stag beetle.
Like all stag beetles, the rainbow stag’s males all have enlarged jaws that are used to wrestle other males for breeding rights. It’s similar to how actual stags fight over females using their large antlers. Although they appear fearsome, the actual strength of those jaws isn’t really enough to do much damage, so they’re usually pretty safe to handle.
The males, at least. Female jaws are smaller and much more powerful, so don’t piss off a female stag beetle!
Rainbow stag beetles are often prized among collectors for their brilliant shells, which can shine green, blue, red, or black. They also are extremely long-lived relative to other bugs (2-3 years), so they’re often kept as pets in Japan. This probably explains why the rainbow stag is in New Horizons.
Where To Find A Rainbow Stag
Rainbow stag beetles are nocturnal, so you can only catch them between the hours of 7 PM And 8 AM. In the Northern Hemisphere, they spawn between the months of June and September, whereas in the Southern Hemisphere they spawn between the months of December and March.
In-game, rainbow stags spawn exclusively on trees. You’ll have to approach them slowly as they’re skittish creatures and will fly away if spooked. This also means you’ll only get one shot to catch one in your net, otherwise you’ll need to find another one.
Rainbow stags can be sold for 6,000 bells or donated to Blathers’ museum.
