Stag Beetle

Lucanus cervus

The Stag Beetle is a strong beetle known for its large jaws that look like antlers! It's a cool beetle to find in the garden.

Habitat: Forests and gardens

Appearance

The Stag Beetle is a large, robust insect, typically reddish-brown to black. Males are easily identified by their impressively oversized, antler-like mandibles, which are much larger than those of the smaller females.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderColeopteraFamilyLucanidaeGenusLucanus

Stag Beetle

Interesting facts

Adult stag beetles enjoy a sweet treat of tree sap, often drinking it upside down.

Sometimes, they pretend to be dead if they feel threatened, lying motionless on their backs!

Stag beetle larvae spend up to seven years growing underground, feasting on dead wood!

Their giant "antlers" are actually mandibles, used by males to wrestle rivals!

Special abilities

Stag Beetles can engage in wrestling matches using their huge mandibles to impress females and compete with rivals.

Stag Beetle larvae have powerful jaws that help them chew through and decompose dead wood, returning nutrients to the soil.

Stag Beetles spend many years developing as larvae underground, undergoing a complete metamorphosis to emerge as adults.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 60-120 mm
Size: 30-75 mm
Lifespan: 30-90 days
Flight Speed: 5-10 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

Larvae munch on decaying wood, while adults sip sweet tree sap and fruit juices.

Age differences: Larvae feed exclusively on decaying wood; adults do not eat solid food but drink tree sap and fruit juices.

Primary Foods

Rotting wood
Tree sap
Decaying fruit

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Green Woodpecker

Picus viridis

Green woodpeckers can dig out and feed on stag beetle larvae.

eaten by

European Badger

Meles meles

Badgers are known predators, digging up larvae from their wooden homes.

depends on

English Oak

Quercus robur

Stag beetle larvae thrive by eating the rotting wood of this and other deciduous trees.

eaten by

Brown Long-eared Bat

Plecotus auritus

This bat hunts flying adult stag beetles during their evening flights.

Traits

Antlered

Spot animals with amazing, branching growths on their heads called antlers! These are usually found on deer and are shed and regrown each year.

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.

Herbivorous

Meet the peaceful munchers and grazers who find all their nourishment from plants, leaves, and fruits. They transform plant energy into life!

Forest

These lush habitats are filled with countless trees, offering homes to a huge variety of plants and animals! Immerse yourself in the green canopy.

Armored

Find creatures protected by tough, hard coverings, almost like a natural shield! This armor helps keep them safe from harm in the wild.

Urban Friendly

Spot amazing living things that thrive right alongside us in cities and towns, finding homes in parks, gardens, and even cracks in pavements.

Nocturnal

Explore the secret world of animals that come alive at night! They are wide awake when it's dark, using their amazing senses to find food and play.

Pollinator

Meet the busy helpers of the plant world! These creatures carry pollen from one flower to another, helping plants make seeds and grow fruits and vegetables.