“Kinshi” is the Japanese word for mycelium, and it plays a huge role in beetle rearing, especially for stag beetle larvae.
In the wild, stag beetle larvae grow by feeding on wood that's been broken down by white-rot fungi and the microbes living in that environment.
Kinshi is basically a recreation of that natural decayed wood, using lab-cultured fungi. When it comes to beetle breeding, there are three main types of Kinshi commonly used, depending on the species you're raising.
✅ Oyster Mushroom (Hiratake – ヒラタケ)
Commonly used for: Dorcus spp, Prosopocoilus spp, Phalacrognathus muelleri, etc. This is one of the most popular types. Reliable, effective, and widely available.
✅ 2. Maple Oyster Mushroom (Ohiratake – オオヒラタケ)
Commonly used for: Dorcus spp, Prosopocoilus spp, Phalacrognathus muelleri, etc. Very similar to Hiratake in terms of how it works and which species it suits. Some breeders prefer it for specific strains or depending on availability.
✅ Turkey Tail (Kawaratake – カワラタケ)
Commonly used for: Mesotopus tarandus, Mesotopus regius, Allotopus rosenbergi.
This type is a bit more specialized and is typically used for more "difficult" or sensitive species. Kawaratake tends to be slower-growing but produces a very hard Kinshi that some species absolutely love.
✅ Reishi Mushroom (れいし)
Commonly used for: Mesotopus tarandus, Mesotopus regius, Allotopus rosenbergi.
Reishi mushroom is a kinshi that many advanced breeders use as an alternative to turkey tail.
Compared to turkey tail, it has a higher larval mortality rate, but it can offer higher egg-laying rates and the potential for producing larger stag beetles.