# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests and gardens - **Also known as:** Horned Beetle, Lucanid Beetle ![Stag Beetle](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426017/objects/5494.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Lucanidae - **Genus:** Lucanus ## 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 - **Antler Wrestle:** Stag Beetles can engage in wrestling matches using their huge mandibles to impress females and compete with rivals. - **Wood Recycler:** Stag Beetle larvae have powerful jaws that help them chew through and decompose dead wood, returning nutrients to the soil. - **Hidden Transformation:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-badger) (*Meles meles*) — Badgers are known predators, digging up larvae from their wooden homes. - **Depends on:** [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/antlered): Antlered describes animals possessing antlers, which are bony, branching growths found predominantly on male deer and related species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Stag Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Stag Beetle's wingspan? 60-120 mm ### How big is Stag Beetle? 30-75 mm ### How long does Stag Beetle live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Stag Beetle fly? 5-10 km/h ### What does Stag Beetle eat? Larvae munch on decaying wood, while adults sip sweet tree sap and fruit juices. ### Where is Stag Beetle usually found? Forests and gardens ### How does Stag Beetle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Naturpark Schönbuch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-schonbuch) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park - [Biosphärenreservat Karstlandschaft Südharz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/biospharenreservat-karstlandschaft-sudharz) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Park - [Naturpark Haßberge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hassberge-nature-park) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Naturpark Hohe Mark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-hohe-mark) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park - [Naturpark Niederlausitzer Heidelandschaft](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/niederlausitzer-heidelandschaft-nature-park) — Brandenburg, DE · Park - [Naturpark Reinhardswald](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-reinhardswald) — Hessen, DE · Park [View all places to see Stag Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/stag-beetle) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Stag Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stag-beetle)