STAG BEETLE

THE stag beetle, at up to almost 7.5cm in length, is the UK’S largest beetle and is found in South East England, particularly in south and west London.

Recently it has been recorded in nearby Northamptonshire, and Shropshire but not in Nottinghamshire.

The lesser stag beetle is generally widespread across both southern and central England and although Nottinghamshire is at the northern part of its range, it is resident in the county.

The adult beetles of both species can be found between May and September.

Male stag beetles are unmistakable with their wide black heads and huge antler-like mandibles and their reddishbrown bodies. Females have a similar colouration, but have smaller mandibles and range from 3 to 5cm in length.

There is room for confusion in identification between species as lesser stag beetles also have relatively large mandibles – but they are smaller at around 3cm in length and matt black all over.

The male and female are similar but can still be told apart on closer inspection. A large lesser stag beetle can be confused with a small female stag beetle, but the black colouration of the lesser stag beetle female is the best diagnostic feature.

Both species are totally harmless to humans despite their size and aggressive appearances.

Stag beetles are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and are Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. But populations of lesser stag beetles are not considered to be of conservation concern.

Stag beetles prefer oak woodlands, but can be found in gardens, hedgerows and parks.

The larvae depend on old trees and rotting wood to live in and feed upon and can take up to six years to develop before they pupate and turn into adults.

The adults have a much shorter lifespan and following emergence in May their sole purpose is to mate, and they then die at the end of summer once the eggs have been laid in a suitable piece of decaying wood.

Male stag beetles spend their days in the sun to gather strength for the evening’s activities where on balmy summer evenings, they will fly, somewhat inelegantly due to their size, in search of mates.

Once a mate is located, he displays his famously massive jaws to the female, and uses them to fight off rival males in a similar fashion to deer. A fullygrown stag beetle larva (grub) can be up to 110mm long and are smooth skinned, with orange head and legs and brown jaws. They are nearly always found below ground and up to half a metre deep.

Adult lesser stag beetles are found in woodland, parkland and hedgerows during the summer, and can often be seen resting in the sun on tree trunks.

Unlike the short-lived stag beetle, lesser stag beetles don’t always die at the end of the breeding season and overwinter in a torpid state under bark, or deep in rotting wood – living up to two years.

They can often found sheltering in plant pots, under stored wood and sometimes in sheds and houses.

Keep an eye out and see if you can spot one.