Lucanus cervus
| Distribution: | Europe |
| Size: | 75mm |
| Diet: | Decaying wood (larvae), sap (adult) |
Lucanus cervus is the UK’s largest beetle (if you exclude a reasonably famous pop group*) and can also be found across Europe. Their giant antlers are modified mandibles and are only enlarged in the males. Like the non-insect stags from which their name derives, stag beetles use these antlers to fight over mating rights and sometimes food. Having vanquished a foe, the male will attempt to impress a prospective mate by circling her and raising his jaws aloft.
Like many beetles and other holometabolous insects, stag beetles spend most of their life as larvae. These cream-coloured minions are small and blind, predominantly living underground where they feed on rotting wood and leaves.
This illustration is based on a specimen I photographed in the Oxford Natural History Museum, which has an incredible array of insect displays and is well worth a visit.
*yes, I know it’s spelled differently
Take a closer look…
