Join the hunt for Wales’ biggest (and perhaps scariest) land insect
ONE of Wales’ most frightening-looking insects is beginning to emerge from hiding, and a wildlife charity wants you to welcome it into your back garden.
While it may seem a scary prospect for many, the stag beetle – Britain’s largest land insect – is actually under threat.
The big bug, which measures up to 8cm long, has seen its numbers decline in recent years and is extinct across large parts of the UK.
But now, People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) has advice for gardeners to help turn their green spaces into a stag beetle haven – and help reverse the decline of this endangered species.
Laura Bower, conservation officer at PTES, explains: “Sadly stag beetles are declining across Europe and they’re now extinct in some countries.
“Gardens are very important habitats, as stag beetle larvae rely on decaying wood in contact with soil to feed on.
“Gardeners can help by retaining dead tree stumps or building a log pile.
“We hope to combat any further decline by asking the public to make their gardens more suitable for stag beetles.”
Mid to late May marks the time of year when stag beetles are likely to be seen, as warmer evenings draw them above ground to find a mate and reproduce.
Little is known about their numbers in Wales, but recent records have shown the beetle is most likely to be seen in south Wales.
Typically, they live in gardens, parks, woodland edges and traditional orchards.
PTES is also asking the public to record any stag beetle sightings in its annual Great Stag Hunt, which has been running for nearly 20 years.
Last year saw more than 6,000 submitted records, the highest number on record since the survey began in 1998.
People can log their sightings at www.ptes. org/stagbeetles to find out more.