)First, a little more about stag beetles. Our national and international surveys help us to keep an eye on numbers and give the best advice on saving them. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. If you find an adult stag beetle, leave it where it is (unless its in immediate danger) and then record your sighting. A stag beetles head and thorax (middle section) are shiny black and their wing cases are chestnut brown. These magnificent beetles are Red listed in many European countries and have undergone a decline across Europe. There are a total of [ 182 ] Pennsylvania Beetles in the BeetleIdentification.org database. They feed off damp, decaying wood, and may invade in large numbers if conditions are just right. (Image Credit: Roger de Keyzer) This is a purple form but the golden stag beetle's colour ranges from red/golden-red to near-black. In addition the tidying of woodlands, parks and gardens has led to the removal of dead or decaying wood habitats which is the stag beetle larvaes food source. The lucanidae family exists of around 1200 beetle species and all have more or less two antlers, while some species have quite huge ones. However, a few are brightly coloured. Stag beetles have also been called billywitches, oak-ox, thunder-beetles, and horse-pinchers! Along with rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles are often bought as pets in South Korea and Japan. The largest (giant) stag beetle in South Carolina is Lucanus elaphus. Rotting wood in gardens might come from log piles, tree stumps and old fence posts. Beetle Jelly is one of the best foods available for beetles and the humans that feed them. Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.InsectIdentification.org. On top of the insect bedding, place dried leaves, logs, and a food dish . In the final larval stage, "L3", the surviving grubs of larger species, such as Prosopocoilus giraffa, may be the size of a human finger. Their larvae need dead and decaying wood to survive, and sadly, people have often spent time tidying up woodland floors and removing this precious stag beetle habitat! Hazel dormice Hedgehogs Noble chafer beetles Stag beetles Water voles More UK species Stag beetles have a fearsome appearance and sometimes people kill them because they look dangerous. A review of the family-group names for the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) with corrections to nomenclature and a current classification. Beetle Jelly is not fit nor intended for human consumption. Share this page. Although they can fly, female beetles are most often seen walkingaround on the ground. As with our other list pages, you can click on the small 'X' in each entry to remove unneeded/unwanted entries in the result. Adult beetles like to the warm surfaces of tarmac and pavements where theyre vulnerable to traffic or feet. Facebook *For more information, see the following link summarizing the research on giant stag beetles: USDA Giant Stag Beetles: Ecology, Genetics, and Distribution. For up to six years they look like white grubs, and make their homes in old trees and rotting wood. If handled carelessly, their pinch can draw blood from a person. Acknowledgements Female stagbeetles prefer light soils which are easier to dig down into and lay their eggs. S, Dirckx J, Aerts P. 2015 Cost of flight and the 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. Help us protect this unique British species by telling us about where they live near you and by making your garden stag beetle friendly. 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. Development will continue to reduce stag beetle habitats, but increased awareness of their existence can help defend the beetles against development. While they are also called pinching bugs by some, they are quite harmless. For instance, the saw-toothed grain beetle infests cereals and flour, while the larder beetle spoils cornmeal and dry pet food. Foxes Vulpes vulpes also do extremely well in an urban environment and, of course, they eat stag beetles, unfortunately. [1] Some species grow to over .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}12 centimetres (4+12 inches), but most to about 5cm (2in). 5. Parks, gardens, hedgerows, orchards, and woodlands are all great habitats for stag beetles! Stag beetle habitats lean towards woodsy areas but can also be found in your wood pile, compost bin, rotting outdoor structure, garbage bin, and any place it can find shelter and food. Were particularly keen for people to record stag beetles in the counties on the border of their known range including Norfolk, Cheshire, Bedfordshire, Somerset, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Shropshire. Northkill Road north of Shartlesville, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA July 1, 2017 Size: 35 mm Although tidying up still continues in gardens, woodlands and park managers are now much more aware of the need to retain dead and decaying wood as part of the woodland ecosystem. For other stag beetle facts and questions pleaseemailstagbeetle@ptes.org. [3] As larvae, females are distinguished by their cream-coloured, fat ovaries visible through the skin around two-thirds of the way down their back. Both females and males of many Lucanid species are impressively big, but the males, with their long mouthparts that look like antlers on a stag, are amazing and intimidating. Minimise your use of weed matting, it can trap beetles underground. Stag beetles spend 3-7 years as a grub (young beetle) living in dead tree stumps and eating the rotting wood. Predators: Bats, birds, and insect-eating mammals. Youre most likely to see adults on warm, sunny evenings in May and June. Adults cant feed on solid food they rely on the fat reserves built up whilst developing as a larva. Periods of very cold weather can extend the process. Lucanus elephus is the largest stag beetle in the US. So, if you are lucky enough to see an adult giant stag beetle, remember they will not hurt you, your pets, or your home. The specific name capreolus is derived from Latin, meaning "roe deer" (capreolus literally means "little goat"). If the purpose isn't breeding, 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) is fine. Despite their often fearsome appearance, they are not normally aggressive to humans. Once recovered, they often fly off. that was awesome beetles are the best creature alive. In Britain, they are found in south and south-eastern areas, including London parks! Stag beetles spend most of their life cycle underground as a larva three to five years depending on the weather. Stag beetles livein woodland edges, hedgerows, traditional orchards, parks and gardens throughout Western Europe including Britain but notIreland. These beetles show an average body size of around 2.5 inches in length. Examples of species occurring in North America include Lucanus capreolus and L. placidus, which are common in the east, and L. mazama (cottonwood stag beetle), which occurs in the southwest. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. And in the forest is where stag beetles like to live. Hopefully get to see them in the future! Updates? Image Credit: Jason Scott Means of South Charleston, West Virginia - www.JasonMeans.com, Image Credit: Tim, taken on the Appalachian Trail, PA, Image Credit: Warren S., taken in Willard, OH, Image Credit: Autsin W., taken in Orient, IA, Updated: 08/25/2022; Authored By Staff Writer; Content www.InsectIdentification.org. This species occurs throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada, and reports suggest the beetle has been plentiful in much of its range. The stag beetle belongs to the family of Lucanidae, consisting of 1200 classes of insects. This is a really cool insect because they can fight. As well as reading our stag beetle facts, please help us protect this threatened British species by telling us about where they live near you and by making your garden stag beetle friendly. You can buy all of these at the store. Stag beetles are in the insect family Lucanidae. Development of non-invasive monitoring methods for stag beetlesA paper from Insect Conservation and Diversity, by Harvey et al. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. Jaws of males are not as large as those of Lucanus elaphus. Alternate titles: Lucanidae, pinching bug. Stag beetles and their larvae are quite harmless and are a joy to watch. They may be small, but boy are these little critters powerful! Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The list below showcases all Beetles related to the state/territory of Pennsylvania currently in the InsectIdentification.org database. These cookies help us record anonymous data about how people are using our website. Most of the beetles in Pennsylvania have been concol3red annoying household pests causing immense damage to food products. L capreolus is distinguished by its shiny reddish brown colour, whereas L. placidus and L. mazama are usually very dark brown or black. Stag beetles can be found in Southern and central Europe. Stag beetles, and loads of other mini-beasts, would much prefer that you left rotting wood alone. The adult lives on the ground in woods. The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the males of most species, which resemble the antlers of stags. However, lesser stags are black all over with matt wing cases, while female stag beetles have shiny brown wing cases. Humans are also a threat to stag beetles. The male giraffe stag beetle (Cladognathus giraffa) of India and Java is almost as long, and its jaws make up about half of its total length. The larvae only feed on decaying wood so please dont kill them. The specific name capreolus is derived from Latin, meaning "roe deer" ( capreolus literally means "little goat"). In reality, they pose no threat to humans or pets, but they can be aggressive to each other during mating season. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. View photos and description of how stag beetle larvae pupate. Stag beetles vary in size. Males have large antler-like jaws, female jaws are much smaller. See the fascinating transformation from caterpillar to butterfly! Adults are attracted to lights at night. Lesser stag beetles tend to have a much squarer overall look. telling us about where they live near you, Download Top Tips for Stag Beetles poster, Development of non-invasive monitoring methods for stag beetles, A collaborative conservation study across Europe, Bionomics and distribution of the stag beetle across Europe. Stag Beetles can fly and often go out to look for a mate at dusk. Theyre nearly always found below ground and can be as deep as half a metre down. The stag beetle is our largest land beetle and the males have characteristic 'antlers'- but don't worry, they are harmless. 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. The smaller L. placidus has two or more teeth on its jaws and has dark femora. I confirm that I am 18 years old or abovePlease confirm that you are an adult. You must be 18 or over. The biggest threat to stag beetles is habitat loss. They are mostly seen dwelling around riparian areas and old cottonwood trees. For the year or two of adulthood, the beetle eats very little food besides perhaps some rotting fruit and sap. They emerge from their larval cocoons in late May, and by the end of August, they die. Female beetles are smaller at between 30-50mm long, with smallermandibles. Most stag beetles are robust and black or brown. Corrections? Its main food is vegetation that is rotting. Stag beetles are a family of about 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies. So come on gang, lets find out some amazing stag beetle facts. Are these little critters powerful body size of around 2.5 inches in length to dig into... Perhaps some rotting fruit and sap and may invade in large numbers if conditions just. How stag beetle in the us males are not as large as those of Lucanus elaphus in dead stumps! 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