You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. The largest (giant) stag beetle in South Carolina is Lucanus elaphus.Photo credit: Anton-Borakov, Shutterstock. We also work hard to protect their homes such as orchards and woodlands. Stag beetles can be found in Southern and central Europe. Stag beetles and their larvae are quite harmless and are a joy to watch. The species was originally described by Carl Linnaeus as Scarabaeus capreolus in his 1763 Centuria Insectorum. According to a 2017 USDA/Forest Service article*, because of our abundance of thick, moist forests, South Carolina has some of the best habitats in the country for giant stag beetles. Stag beetles are legally protected from sale in the UK. Stag beetles spend most of their life cycle underground as a larva three to five years depending on the weather. By the end of August, most of them will have died. On top of the insect bedding, place dried leaves, logs, and a food dish . Blizzards of reports have surfaced on social media and elsewhere, from nearly all quarters of Ohio and beyond. Male stag beetles are known for their oversize mandibles used to wrestle each other for favoured mating sites in a way that parallels the way stags fight over females. Development will continue to reduce stag beetle habitats, but increased awareness of their existence can help. The giant stag beetle, also known as the elephant stag beetle, can be found in the woodlands of North America ranging from Virginia and North Carolina to the northeastern United States. Stag beetles are a family of about 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies. J. R. Soc. Males are usually about 4-8cm long, females are smaller, usually 3-5cm long. They emerge from their larval cocoons in late May, and by the end of August, they die. When tidying up our parks and gardens, tree stumps are often removed. Stag Beetle Facts Benefits Of Stag Beetles In The Garden. In Englands New Forest, it was once believed that the stag beetle, dubbed the devils imp, was sent to do some evil to the corn crops. Syndesinae. We'd love to tell you about our conservation work through our regular newsletter Wildlife World, and also how you can save endangered species through volunteering, taking action or donating. They have been found in captivity to make burrows and nest in soil and mulch. Specimens that are kept as pets are generally around 5cm (2). Theyre fairly smooth skinned, have orange head and legs and brown jaws. : Goyens J, Van Wassenbergh Adult beetles are attracted to the warm surfaces of tarmac and pavements, which makes them particularly vulnerable to being crushed by traffic or feet. D., 1985; Milne and Milne, 1980) Biogeographic Regions; nearctic. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters. If you do have to move a stag beetle for its own safety, then please move it as short a distance as possible (into a nearby hedge or plant for example). Adults spend the winter underground and usually emerge from mid-May onwards. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Scientific name: Lucanus cervusFamily name: LucanidaeClassification: InsectBody length: 3.5-7.5cmDiet: Decaying wood and tree sap.Predators: Bats, birds, and insect-eating mammals.Habitat: Woodland (especially oak woods), parks and gardens.Range: Southern and central Europe. Stag beetles have a dark, violet-brown elytra (wing cases) with reddish-brown antlers (females antlers are much smaller . Newly emerging adults also have to dig their way up through the soil to reachthe surface, therefore areas like the North and South Downs, which are chalky, have veryfew stag beetles. native; Habitat. Birds, lizards, snakes, toads,. Cottonwood stag beetles can grow from 1.02 to 1.14 inches in length and have glossy back-colored bodies. A durable exoskeleton and imposing, pincer-like mandibles on males imply aggression, but this is not an accurate reflection of the beetle. Parks, gardens, hedgerows, orchards, and woodlands are all great habitats for stag beetles! Triple your gift here. Stag beetle larvae are occasionally found in sleepers and fencing in gardens, but this is only where the wood is in contact with the soil and is already rotting down. Some species grow to 8 centimetres (3 inches), but most are about 5 centimetres (2 inches). Entries are listed below in alphabetical order (A-to-Z). (Arnett, Jr., Ph. Once fully grown, the larvae leave the rotting wood theyve been feeding onto build a large cocoon in the soil where they pupate and finally metamorphoseinto an adult. Larvae feed on decaying wood under the ground. explore and learn delivered straight to your inbox. The answer to this question is a bit complicated because their enormous antlers are enlarged mandibles, which are totally useless for eating, but can give you the odd pinch, of course. But they can use their feathery tongue to drink from sap runs and fallen soft fruit. Stag beetles are in the insect family Lucanidae. A relatively large lucanid beetle of the genus Lucanus, the male has long, curved upper jaws, resembling a sickle. Their size often varies among individuals. While adults look too big and cumbersome to fly, they can. You can give it some soft fruit or sugar water. Female stagbeetles prefer light soils which are easier to dig down into and lay their eggs. People's Trust for Endangered Species, 3 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London SW8 4BG Registered Charity Number 274206 Website designed and developed by WATERS. Stag beetles have also been called billywitches, oak-ox, thunder-beetles, and horse-pinchers! All rights reserved. Take part. These cookies are required to make our website work! Help us protect this unique British species by telling us about where they live near you and by making your garden stag beetle friendly. Northkill Road north of Shartlesville, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA July 1, 2017 Size: 35 mm This is a really cool insect because they can fight. Scientific name: Lucanus cervus Family name: Lucanidae Classification: Insect Body length: 3.5-7.5cm Diet: Decaying wood and tree sap. that was awesome beetles are the best creature alive. In Britain, they are found in south and south-eastern areas, including London parks! I confirm that I am 18 years old or above. Stag beetles love dry areas that dont get too much rain, and soft soil for digging. However, lesser stags are black all over with matt wing cases, while female stag beetles have shiny brown wing cases. During their short adult lives, male stag beetles spend their days sunning themselves to gather strength for the evenings activities of flying in search of a mate. If you dig up stag beetle larvae, put them back exactly where you found them. Our national and international surveys help us to keep an eye on numbers and give the best advice on saving them. By entering your email address you agree to our. Most of their life, from 3 to 5 years, is spent as giant beetle grubs in rotting wood where they feed on liquids produced during the decay process. Males are usually about 4-8cm long, females are smaller, usually 3-5cm long. They can use their feathery tongue to drink from sap runs and fallen soft fruit. Despite their often fearsome appearance, they are not normally aggressive to humans. Changes in weather patterns are also likely to have an impact on stag beetles. If you already have a pond, a well-placed pile of stones or a log will help stag beetles climb out. ( Linnaeus, 1763) Lucanus capreolus, the reddish-brown stag beetle, [1] is a beetle of the family Lucanidae. Are there stag beetles in Pennsylvania? I identified it as either the Reddish-Brown Stag Beetle or the Giant Stag Beetle, as the Giant Stag Beetle is listed to be "2 to 3 inches long", and the beetle was definately at least three inches long. Stag beetles spend 3-7 years as a grub (young beetle) living in dead tree stumps and eating the rotting wood. Stag beetles are legally protected from sale in the UK. Acknowledgements Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Stag beetles are in the insect family Lucanidae. Take the insects quiz Antler-like jaws Tough wing case Claws Beetles in battle Animals and Nature Such species are among the most threatened insects in Europe, says U.S. Forest Service scientist Michael Ulyshen. If you have to movea beetle for its own safety, thenplease move it as short a distance as possible. How stag beetle looks? The name refers to the resemblance of the antennae to deer antlers. From grand, ancient oak trees, to a fallen apple tree limb in an orchard, to an old buddleia stump in your garden, dead wood is actually teeming with life. Youre most likely to see adults on warm, sunny evenings in May and June. Theyre fairly smooth skinned, have orange head and legs and brown jaws. 7. Females might be confused with females of the reddish-brown stag beetle but have darker legs and a smooth thorax shield. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lucanus_capreolus&oldid=1100855907, This page was last edited on 28 July 2022, at 01:54. The larvae only feed on decaying wood so please dont kill them. I recommend this book to beetle lovers of this planet. The information that you provide will be held by Peoples Trust for Endangered Species. The list below showcases all Beetles related to the state/territory of Pennsylvania currently in the InsectIdentification.org database. Their primary purpose is to mate before they die to produce future offspring to help recycle the forest. )First, a little more about stag beetles. You will receive our UK newsletter. Theyre nearly always found below ground and can be as deep as half a metre down. A stag beetles head and thorax (middle section) are shiny black and their wing cases are chestnut brown. These beetles live and reproduce in damp, rotting wood. Interface 12: 20150222. If it is not possible to replace them, the next best thing is to re-bury the larvae in a safe, shady place in your garden with as much of the original rotting wood as possible. The name of this insect is derived from the giant mandibles on the male, which resemble the stags of a deer in the way they curve and branch. Whilst there are over a thousand species of stag beetle across the world, we only have three members of the stag beetle family here in the UK; the stag beetle (Lucanus cervus), its smaller relative the lesser stag beetle (Dorcus paralellapipidus) and the rhinoceros beetle (Sinodendron cylindricum).You can see the differences between each type, and with other beetles, on this PDF guide by the PTES. Smith, A.B.T. Get messy, explore and appreciate nature, all from the safety of home! There are 30 different species of stag beetles in the United States. Alternate titles: Lucanidae, pinching bug. Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike! The winning male gets the opportunity to mate. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. These are large insects with rather threatening looking mandibles. They are actually over-sized mandibles, used in courtship displays and to wrestle other male beetles. Scientific Name: Lucanus capreolus Other Name (s): Reddish-brown Stag Beetle; Common Stag Beetle Category: Beetle Size (Adult; Length): 20mm to 36mm (0.78" to 1.41") Colors: red; black; orange; yellow Descriptors: pincers; claw; pinchers; big; hefty; reddish brown; flying Stag-Beetle-Lucanus-Capreolus Video (s) No doubt they are attracted by the smell of the larvae and quite probably by their stridulation as well; foxes have very acute senses. Stag beetles will get stressed if kept in a small case. Males are often seenflying around at dusk searching for a mate. Likely to have an impact on stag beetles climb out black all over with matt cases... British species by telling us about where they live near you and making! As possible all great habitats for stag beetles have shiny brown wing cases, female. Often seenflying around at dusk searching for a mate to revise the article, Shutterstock 18 years old above! 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