What do stag beetles do

Females have much smaller mandibles and grow between mm. Both male and females have shiny black heads and thoraxes and brown chestnut-coloured wing cases. Larvae: are large white grubs with orange heads and legs. They can grow up to mm long and live underground. Not to be confused with: a lesser stag beetle. The female stag beetle and this species look familiar, however the lesser has a squarer shape and is matt black all over. Adults: survive solely on tree sap and energy stores from their larval stage.

Larvae: spend their development munching on deadwood underground, building up enough energy to emerge and mate when they reach adulthood. Male stag beetles use their huge mandibles to fight off rival males and impress potential mates. After mating, the female will leave to find some deadwood where she will dig her way underground and lay up to 21 eggs.

Eggs are laid in the summer and hatch into larvae that will remain underground feasting on decaying wood, shedding their skin five times, until they grow large enough to pupate. Depending on the weather, this process can take between three to seven years. When a larva is ready to mature, it will cocoon before emerging in adult form in May.

Adult beetles have a short life-span and will die soon after mating, usually by the end of August. Stag beetles are largely confined to southern England and are rarely seen further north. So, what are their big jaws for? Not all species of Stag Beetles are threatened, and there are some you can even keep as pets. If you are interested in a Stag Beetle pet, do not collect one from the wild; buy one from a reputable pet store and always check which species are protected first.

Then you know you are not illegally buying a threatened species. Photo: Antisense. Stag Beetles Go Back. What do stag beetles look like?

Where are stag beetles found? Some male Stag Beetles can live for two summer seasons. Stag Beetles There are over 1, species of these big-jawed beetles in the world, and maybe even more than 85 different species just in Australia, but even though there are lots of different types of Stag Beetle, many are facing a loss of habitat that is threatening their survival. Stag Beetles love: Thick, damp layers of leaves and organic material left on the ground. Rotting logs and fungus.

A little sap or nectar from time to time. Other Stag Beetle stepping on their turf. Being moved away from their territory.

Some Australian Stag Beetles are very rare so it is important that we leave them to breed in their chosen habitat. In many stag beetle species, females lay their eggs on or under the bark of dead, fallen trees. Upon hatching, larvae chew their way into the tree and feed on the juices of the decaying wood. Once they complete development a process which may take several years , the larvae pupate in small chambers in the soil near their food source.

When the adult emerges it searches for a mate. The males in some species use their huge jaws to fight each other over females. Adults live for years, depending on the species. Stag Beetle Larva B. Kentucky species are found in wooded areas, but there are a few species from other parts of the world that live on beaches. Not much is known about the feeding habits of adult stag beetles, but they are often seen flying to lights at night during the summer. When disturbed, a stag beetle will rear back and hold its head high with its mandibles open.

Male Elephant Stag Beetle B. Newton, Because they help with the decomposition of dead trees, stag beetle larvae like termites and other creatures are a vital part of the forest ecosystem. No healthy hardwood forest in Kentucky is without stag beetle larvae. Stag beetles and their larvae are food for a variety of animals, including birds, lizards, snakes, toads, raccoons, centipedes, and mustellids weasels, skunks, etc. They are beneficial insects because they help with the decomposition process of dead wood in forests.

There are four species of pinching bugs in the genus Psuedolucanus , and all are similar in size and appearance. Females of both the common and elephant stag beetles look almost identical, but males can be distinguished by the mandibles, which are considerably smaller in the male common stag beetle.

Common stag beetles are reddish brown and grow to be mm in length. Like most other stag beetles, these beetles eat decaying wood as larvae; the adults eat little or nothing. Look for stag beetles and their larvae in rotting logs and under loose bark. In Kentucky, these beetles are common in healthy woodlands with lots of fallen hardwood trees.

Almost all species will crawl or fly to lights at night.