Stag Beetle
9 images Created 23 Feb 2013
The stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) is the UK’s largest terrestrial beetle. Stag beetle larvae live in old trees with decaying timber and dead wood, where they remain for 4-6 years until maturity. The adult beetles emerge in early summer and often fly at dusk during the mating period. Forest management 'tidying up' practices frequently eliminate the habitat required by this species. Once fairly common, the population of Lucanus cervus is in steep decline and it is now listed as a threatened/declining species.
