Stag BeetleLucanus elaphus
Quick facts
- Rarity
- Common
- Active during
- Night
- Found in
- Lotsamoss Woods
- Length
- 2.5 in
- Wingspan
- 3.7 in
From the field notes
Diet
Adult beetles barely eat. They rely on special feathery tongues to lap up sticky tree sap and fermenting fruit juices to fuel their short, frantic mating season.
Antlers
The male's giant antler-like mandibles are surprisingly weak. They are designed purely for wrestling other males over mates and territory. They joust with each other, trying to scoop their opponent up and toss them off the branch.
Flight
While they can fly, they are far from graceful. Weighed down by heavy armor and giant jaws, they buzz loudly and lumber clumsily through the air.
Life Cycle
These beetles spend most of their lives inside rotting wood for several years as grubs before finally emerging as fully armored adults for only one brief, busy summer.
Field Marks
The males have their signature branching jaws that look just like the antlers of deer, giving them their name. The females have smaller, but much sharper, pincers.