Japanese city offers beetle larvae as gifts for tax donations

Tamura, a city in Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, is leveraging its unique insect breeding program to boost its national profile. The city's tourism facility, Mushi Mushi Land, has successfully bred Hercules beetles, some of the world's largest, and is offering them as incentives for its "hometown tax donation" program.

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Donors who contributed 21,000 yen (S$170) or more through the program were eligible to receive one.

Donors contributing 21,000 yen (approximately $170) or more are eligible to receive a Hercules beetle larva, which is about to enter its pupal stage. These larvae, weighing around 150g and measuring over 10cm, are expected to grow into adult beetles over more than a year, allowing donors to observe their development. The city aims to position itself as a "sacred site for insects" through this initiative.

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Donors will be able to observe their growth into adult beetles over the course of more than a year.

The region has a historical connection to insects. The town of Tokiwa, which merged to form Tamura city, was once known for tobacco leaf production. The mold used for growing seedlings was ideal for beetles, leading to a thriving rhinoceros beetle population. In 1988, the town declared itself the "Natural Kingdom of Rhinoceros Beetles" and even designated "Insect Day" on June 4.

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The town of Tokiwa, which merged with other towns to form the city of Tamura, was known for its thriving tobacco leaf production.

Tamura city established an "insect division" in 2023, headed by a rhinoceros beetle-themed character named Kabuton, to promote Mushi Mushi Land and the appeal of insects via its YouTube channel. The city also participated in the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo with an interactive beetle exhibit and organized a "national stag beetles summit" that attracted around 700 attendees. These efforts aim to revitalize the town and promote its unique identity, especially in the wake of the 2011 nuclear accident that led to evacuation orders in parts of the city.

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In 1988, the town declared itself the “Natural Kingdom of Rhinoceros Beetles”.