[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Stag Beetles are the largest terrestrial beetle in the UK, and sadly they're now quite scarce. They spend several years underground as a grub, before emerging for a very short time, as a large, noisy, spectacular, adult beetle. Their sole purpose during this short stage of life is to mate and lay eggs for the next generation.
Scientific name: Lucanus cervus
Size: The male Stag Beetle grows to about 90mm in length, including the antlers, and the female Stag Beetle grows to around 60mm
Distribution: Found mainly in the south and south east of England. Hot spots for the Stag Beetle are Dorset, Surrey, Greater London (especially Bromley, Croydon and Lewisham), Essex, Kent, Berkshire, Bucks, Hampshire, Herts, Suffolk, West Sussex and Oxfordshire
Months seen: Seen flying at dusk from May to August
Life span: Adult beetles live for up to 8 weeks
Habitat: Woodlands and gardens
Food: Tree sap. The larvae eat rotting wood
Special features: Stag Beetles are the largest beetles found in the U.K. and they're now quite rare.
The most noticeable features of the male Stag Beetles are the large antler-like jaws, which give the beetle its name. They are used during the mating season to fight with other males over territory. Each male tries to grab his opponent between his jaws, and then throw him.
The fully grown male stag beetles can normally be seen flying at dusk between May and August. They look quite unstable in flight, and their wings make a loud buzzing sound. The warmer temperatures of late spring encourage them to look for a mate. They will drink tree sap, but do not eat, and will not grow at all. After mating the male Stag Beetles die.
The females can be recognised by the much smaller jaws. Although both the male and female Stag Beetles can give you a pinch, they are quite harmless. Females lay their eggs in, or near, rotten wood, and then die.
The larvae (grubs) which hatch from the eggs, have cream coloured bodies with an orange head and orange legs. They live and feed in the rotting wood for up to six years.
When fully grown, the larvae leave the wood to pupate in the soil. This occurs in the summer, while the weather is still warm, and lasts a few weeks. The fully grown beetle remains in this state until the following summer when it emerges as an adult beetle.
Sightings
2000 - Osterley, Middlesex - G. Bradley
2012 - Yateley, Surrey - Phil Jansz
2012 - Camberwell, London - Tom Bamford
2012 - Ash, Surrey - Hilton Tosh
2012 - Ipswich, Suffolk - Chloe Sheffield
2012 - between Holbury and Beaulieu, Hampshire - Leon Rea
2012 - Woodham, Surrey - G. Bradley
2012 - Poole, Dorset - Dee Terrot
2013 - Colchester, Essex - Marcus Tricker
2013 - Sidcup, Kent - Hugo Lee Jay
2013 - Kilburn, London - Laura Riding
2013 - Wimborne, Dorset - Andy Richardson
2013 - Leatherhead, Surrey - James Morris
2013 - Southampton, Hampshire - Malky Bibliowicz
2013 - Cowfold, West Sussex - Doreen Squires
2013 - Enfield, Middlesex - Ray Stevens
2013 - Egham, Surrey - Will Finch
2013 - Poole, Dorset - Linda Runte
2013 - Poole, Dorset - Dee Terrot
2013 - Southampton, Hampshire - Kailua + Bayden Lane
2013 - Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire - Geoff Jones
Sat Jul 13, 2013 8:00 am