The chief distinguishing characteristics of this genus are its impressive mandibles, which can sometimes be as long as its body, as well as its lustrous metallic exoskeleton, which can range from red, brown, green, purple, gold and a rarer blue-black.

As such, beetles from the genus Cyclommatus can command a high price from collectors, with a demand for both live and dried specimens.

[9] Cyclommatus is found in many parts of the world, including: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand,Vietnam and AC.

These enlarged mandibles are used for scratching the surfaces of bark to allow the beetle to feed on tree sap, or to compete with other males for mates.

Due to their smaller mandibles and need to chew through decaying wood to lay eggs, female beetles of this genus were thought to have a greater biting force.

After mating, female beetles use their smaller mandibles better adapted to cutting wood to create tunnels within decaying logs in which eggs are laid.

As adults, beetles of genus Cyclommatus generally subsist on tree sap, and typically do not have a lifespan of any longer than one year.

Large specimens of these genus can command high prices upwards of $700 USD due to the lustrous metallic bodies that the beetles possess.