STAG BEETLE
(Lucanus cervus)
(Lucanus cervus)
The stag beetle is a large beetle with characteristic "antlers," found in the forests of Europe and Asia. It is an important element of the ecosystem, contributing to wood decomposition.
01
Description
A large beetle: the length of an adult male is 30–55 mm, with mandibles up to 75 mm. The stag beetle is distinguished by its prominent "horns," which are actually mandibles — upper jaws that can exceed the length of the body. The female is slightly smaller (28–45 mm) and has much shorter jaws. The color is dark, brown with a reddish tint.
02
Biology
These beetles can be observed flying in July-August. The female lays eggs up to 2.2 mm in size in rotten trees and stumps: decayed wood serves as food for the larvae. The larvae of the beetles are long (up to 13.5 cm) and thick, like human fingers, but their weak point is the long development period, which lasts about five years. During this time, even if the tree remains intact, they may be found by parasites and other natural enemies.
If the larvae are lucky enough to survive this "difficult age," they pupate and turn into fully developed beetles, after which they live no more than a month. Adult beetles are often eaten by insectivorous birds, leaving only their heads behind. The beetles themselves are harmless "sweet tooths" and feed on tree sap.
If the larvae are lucky enough to survive this "difficult age," they pupate and turn into fully developed beetles, after which they live no more than a month. Adult beetles are often eaten by insectivorous birds, leaving only their heads behind. The beetles themselves are harmless "sweet tooths" and feed on tree sap.
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Habitat
In the 18th to mid-20th centuries, the cheetah inhabited the eastern shores of the Caspian Sea and the deserts near the Aral Sea. The last reliable records of cheetahs in Kazakhstan date back to the 1960s.
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Habitat
Stag beetles inhabit broad-leaved forests, usually oak forests, and forest steppes. Rotten wood is essential for the survival of beetle larvae.
It is believed that the eastern boundary of the stag beetle's range in Kazakhstan is the Ural Valley. It has been found in the Kirsanov State Nature Reserve.
The species was widespread in Europe, but recently the stag beetle has been declining in numbers, and in some countries, it is considered extinct
05
Threats to the species
- Habitat reduction: fires, deforestation, and the use of pesticides negatively impact the stag beetle population, and the destruction of old oaks and rotten stumps makes it difficult for larvae to develop.
- Natural enemies: the stag beetle often falls prey to birds such as crows, hawks, owls, and others.
- Illegal collection: illegal collecting of specimens for collections.
- Parasites: some hymenopterans parasitize stag beetle larvae.
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