Error message
Unable to fetch location details at this time.
Stag beetle (female)
Lucanus cervus
51.4006, 0.0956253
Field Notes
Description:
The stag beetle has a very long life cycle the majority of which
is spent underground in their larval stage. After spending between
three and up to seven years in the larval state they then build an ovoid-shaped cocoon in the soil, upto 20cm below ground, that can be as large as an orange and take upto three weeks to build. Within it the
larva will pupate and finally metamorphose into an adult, emerging
from its cocoon in the autumn and spending the winter and spring in
the soil. Adult beetles usually emerge from mid May onwards and by
the end of August most of them will have died after mating. They do
not survive the winter.
Habitat:
Suburban garden
Notes:
For a moment when I first saw her flying I was convinced she was a hummingbird until I realized there are of course no hummingbirds in the UK! I ran around following her for about 5 minutes until she eventually landed rather clumsily on her back (photo 5). She settled on my finger long enough for me to take a few snaps before flying on her way.
Comments (2)