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Stag Beetle

Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus 1758)

Biology

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Despite it being such a large and spectacular insect, surprisingly little is known about the habits of the stag beetle. In 1998 the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) invited the public to look for the beetles, asking questions about where they were finding them, the type of wood it was found near, was it eating and so-on. The 'Stag Hunt' revealed that the beetles lay their eggs both in rotting log piles and in the roots of an assortment of rotten trees, including oak, apple, ash and cherry. They seem to have a preference for oak, especially those growing along riverbanks. They also prefer warm places on sandy or light soils, and are now mostly reported from urban and suburban gardens. In fact, seventy percent of the beetles reported were found in gardens. The larvae of the stag beetle live within their rotting logs for up to four years before pupating and emerging as adults at the beginning of the flight season the following year. However, the adults have a much shorter life than the larvae, and only survive for a few months. It used to be thought that adult stag beetles died at the end of the year but, as a result of the survey, it seems some beetles can survive the winter. The main message from the survey was, sadly, that the beetle seems to have declined in numbers greatly, especially in some areas.
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Conservation

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The stag beetle is listed as a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP), and is included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme. The People's Trust for Endangered Species is leading a number of programmes to raise the profile of this insect, and have now organised two national surveys to find out more about stag beetle distribution and behaviour and encourage the public to become more sympathetic towards them; the huge response to the first PTES survey suggests that the beetles now have an enthusiastic fan club who may lobby local authorities and owners of large gardens to 'spare that rotten tree!' With regard to the fear that trade in the insects might present a threat, the PTES lobbied the government's advisors and, since April 1998, the stag beetle has been protected under Schedule 5, Section 9.5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which means that all trade in the species is illegal and those suspected of trading in the species can be prosecuted.
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Description

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The stag beetle is arguably the most spectacular looking beetle in Britain; the male looks like something from a prehistoric age. The giant antler-like mandibles are used in courtship displays, and wrestling with other males. Although rather fearsome in appearance, the mandibles cannot be closed with any force. You are more likely to be nipped sharply by the female stag beetle, a smaller insect than the male that lacks the huge jaws. The stag beetle, superficially, appears black all over but, in certain lights, it can be seen to have dark maroon or brown wing cases. The impressive mandibles also have a reddish sheen to them. The wing cases are glossy; the head and thorax are a dull black.
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Habitat

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Stag beetles are found in gardens, wooded parks and pasture woodland; anywhere where there is a good supply of dead wood.
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Range

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The stag beetle is nothing like as common as it used to be, but is still widespread in southern England, especially the Thames valley, north Essex, south Hampshire and West Sussex. It also occurs fairly frequently in the Severn valley and coastal areas of the south-west. Elsewhere in Britain it is extremely rare or even extinct. This beetle is found throughout Europe, and East Asia as far as Japan, although it is rare or declining in some countries.
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Status

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Listed under Annex II of the EC Habitats Directive and Appendix III of the Bern Convention. Protected in the UK under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended.
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Threats

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As the beetle grubs take so long to develop, they become extremely vulnerable to tree clearance and the 'tidying up' of wood in parks and especially gardens; the over-zealous tidying of dead timber and stumps is thought to be the chief reason why this spectacular beetle seems to be in decline; although facts about its true status are still unclear. Elsewhere, there may also be a threat caused by the collection of the beetles for sale; to date no evidence of such a trade has been found in the UK. There are a number of websites that offer specimens for sale in the US for about $10 per animal. Whether they are collected from the wild or bred for the purpose is not clear, but if it does occur this practice is probably limited to European countries.
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Associations

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Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Lucanus cervus feeds within dead or rotten wood of Quercus
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Lucanus cervus feeds within dead or rotten wood of esp. stump of Tilia

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Lucanus cervus feeds within dead or rotten wood of esp. stump of Ulmus

Foodplant / feeds on
imago of Lucanus cervus feeds on exudate of Broadleaved trees

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Lucanus cervus feeds within dead or rotten wood of esp. stump of Fagus

Foodplant / open feeder
imago of Lucanus cervus grazes on fruit of Rosaceae

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Lucanus cervus

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Lucanus cervus, known as the European stag beetle, or the greater stag beetle, is one of the best-known species of stag beetle (family Lucanidae) in Western Europe, and is the eponymous example of the genus. L. cervus is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List.[1]

Taxonomy

Lucanus cervus is situated in the genus Lucanus within the family Lucanidae. In the genus there are two subgenera: Lucanus Scopoli, 1763 and Pseudolucanus Hope and Westwood, 1845.[3] The species L. cervus contains four subspecies. The nominate subspecies L. cervus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758) was established via the original description of the species in 1758. The three latterly added subspecies are L. cervus judaicus Planet, 1900, L. cervus laticornis Deyrolle, 1864, and L. cervus turcicus Sturm, 1843.[2] L. cervus akbesianus 1896

Description

Sexual dimorphism - male and female

Sexually dimorphic, the males have enlarged mandibles and are larger than the females. Although the male's mandibles seem threatening, they are too weak to be harmful. Nevertheless, females can inflict a painful bite. The resemblance of the male's mandibles to the antlers of a stag, and their use in combat between males, much like with deer, gives the species its scientific and common names.

Adult size varies between different areas of its distribution, for example beetles from Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands are larger than those from Belgium or the UK.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Lucanus cervus is widespread across Europe,[4] though it is absent from Ireland.[1] In Germany it is widespread, mainly in the south. In Hungary this species is widespread in the hilly and mountainous areas. In Romania it is widespread, especially in the hilly areas with sun exposed slopes. It also occurs in the European part of Turkey.[1] In Italy it is mainly distributed in northern and central regions.[5] In Spain and Portugal it is present only in the northern half of each country.[6][7] In Britain it is largely confined to the south-east of England, where it is widespread.[8] This species is now extinct in Denmark and Latvia.[9] It is also found in Caucasus, Asia Minor, Syria and west Kazakhstan.[1] Its range is currently only increasing in Croatia and Slovakia.[4]

Lucanus cervus has been associated with a range of trees including those in the families oak (Quercus), lime (Tilia), beech (Fagus), willow (Salix) and certain species in other families including black poplar (Populus nigra), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), wild cherry (Prunus avium), and common walnut (Juglans regia).[10] Larval development sites were found in proximity of dead wood of the allochthonous Quercus rubra.[11]

Life cycle

Adults appear during late May to the beginning of August, being most active in the evenings. Females lay their eggs in a piece of decaying wood deep in the soil. Stag beetle larvae, which are blind and shaped like a letter "C", feed on rotting wood in a variety of places, tree stumps, old trees and shrubs, rotting fence posts, compost heaps, and leaf mould. The larvae have a cream-coloured, soft, transparent body with six orange legs, and an orange head which is very distinct from the very sharp brown pincers. They have combs in their legs which they use for communication (stridulation) with other larvae. The larvae go through several instars (stages),[12] taking 1 to 3 years to become pupae.

Mature larva
Male pupa; the distinctive mandibles are clearly visible

The work of entomologist Charlie Morgan during the late 1970s discovered that the pupae of the stag beetle live in the soil for about 3 months, then emerge in summer to awkwardly fly off to mate. Adults only live for a few weeks, feeding on nectar and tree sap. Their slow, lumbering flight, usually at dusk, makes a distinctive low-pitched buzzing sound. The males fly more readily than the females.

Behaviour and ecology

The natural reaction of the beetle to an approaching large object is to remain motionless, making them a good photographic subject.

Daily activity, use of space and detectability

In a primary ancient forest in northern Italy, stag beetle males were less elusive than females. Males were more frequently radio-tracked in flight, females mostly underground and in the proximity of deadwood. Males were mostly observed flying at sunset, and resting or walking on standing trees during the day. The combination of air temperature and humidity determined the optimal weather conditions for male flights. Flying at sunset, mostly performed by males, significantly increased the detectability of the species. [13] Stag beetles are shown to be more active during the first part of their adult lives. Males were more prone to disperse than females but the home range size did not differ between the sexes. Dividing the flight season in three intervals, the most active individuals were recorded during the first and the second ones (first and second half of June).[14]

Predators

Natural predators of L. cervus in Britain include cats, foxes, badgers, carrion crows, magpies, kestrels, and false black widows; these tend to strike at the most vulnerable stage in the beetle’s life cycle, when adults are seeking to mate and lay eggs.[9] In the case of magpies, they have been observed in the field as waiting for emergence on a single site; subsequently consuming the beetle's abdomen.[15]

In Italy, the main predator is the hooded crow (Corvus cornix).[16]

Parasites

Mites in the order Monogynaspida (Suborder Uropodina) are phoretic (attached for the purpose of transportation) and have been observed attached to L. cervus as deutonymphs on the membrane of the joint between head and pronotum.[17]

Relationship to humans

Protection

Lucanus cervus is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List.[1] Although this species is widely distributed in Europe, it is in significant decline in the north and central part of its range and future trends of European forests will pose serious threats to this species, thus making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable.[1]

Lucanus cervus is registered in the second appendix of the Habitats Directive of the European Union from 1992, which requires that member states set aside special areas of conservation. The species is also registered in the third appendix of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Berne convention) of 1982 and Schedule 5 of the UK's Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Lucanus cervus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017. 2017. Retrieved 2017-01-23.old-form url
  2. ^ a b "Stag Beetle, Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758)". BioLib.cz. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  3. ^ "Genus. Lucanus Scopoli, 1763". BioLib.cz. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  4. ^ a b c Harvey, D.J.; Gange, A.C.; James, C. J.; Rink, M (2011). "Bionomics and distribution of the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus (L.) across Europe". Insect Conservation and Diversity. 4: 23–38. doi:10.1111/j.1752-4598.2010.00107.x.
  5. ^ Bartolozzi L.; Maggini L. (2006). "Insecta Coleoptera Lucanidae". In S. Ruffo; F. Stoch (eds.). Checklist and distribution of the Italian fauna. Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona. pp. 191–192.
  6. ^ López-Colón, J. I. (2000). "Familia Lucanidae". In Martín-Piera, F.; López-Colón, J. I. (eds.). Fauna Iberica Vol. 14: Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea I. CSIC.
  7. ^ Grosso-Silva, J.M. (1999). "Contribuição para o conhecimento dos lucanídeos (Coleoptera, Lucanidae) de Portugal". Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (in Portuguese). 25: 11–15.
  8. ^ "Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758) [Stag Beetle]". National Biodiversity Network. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  9. ^ a b "About stag beetles". People's Trust for Endangered Species. 2017. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  10. ^ "Coleoptera>> Lucanidae>> Lucanus cervus (L.)". Database of Insects and their Food Plants (Biological Records Centre). Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  11. ^ Tini, M.; Bardiani, M.; Campanaro, A.; Mason, F.; Audisio, P.; Carpaneto G.M. (2017). "Detection of stag beetle oviposition sites by combining telemetry and emergence traps". Nature Conservation. 19: 81–96. doi:10.3897/natureconservation.19.12678.
  12. ^ a b "Lucanus cervus". Encyclopedia of life. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  13. ^ Tini, M.; Bardiani, M.; Campanaro, A.; Chiari, S.; Mason, F.; Maurizi, E.; Toni, I.; Audisio, P.; Carpaneto, G.M. (2017). "A stag beetle's life: sex-related differences in daily activity and behaviour of Lucanus cervus (Coleoptera: Lucanidae)". Journal of Insect Conservation. 21: 897–906. doi:10.1007/s10841-017-0029-5.
  14. ^ Tini, M.; Bardiani, M.; Chiari, S.; Campanaro, A.; Maurizi, E.; Toni, I.; Mason, F.; Audisio, P.; Carpaneto, G.M. (2018). "Use of space and dispersal ability of a flagship saproxylic insect: a telemetric study of the stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) in a relict lowland forest". Insect Conservation and Diversity. 11: 116–129. doi:10.1111/icad.12260. hdl:11573/1070456.
  15. ^ Fremlin, m; Davidson, J.; Davidson, G. (2012). "Stag Beetle Predation by Magpies in a Colchester Garden" (PDF). Nature in North-East Essex: 81–85.
  16. ^ Campanaro, A.; Toni, I.; Hardersen, S.; Grasso, D. A. (2011). "Monitoring of Lucanus cervus by means of Remains of Predation (Coleoptera: Lucanidae)". Entomologia Generalis. 33 (1): 79–89. doi:10.1127/entom.gen/33/2011/79.
  17. ^ Hawes, C. (2010). "Hitchhiking a lift: Stag Beetles as Carriers of Mites" (PDF). White Admiral. 77: 16–17.

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Lucanus cervus: Brief Summary

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Lucanus cervus, known as the European stag beetle, or the greater stag beetle, is one of the best-known species of stag beetle (family Lucanidae) in Western Europe, and is the eponymous example of the genus. L. cervus is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List.

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