Stag beetle - Vliegend hert - Lucanus cervus

The stag beetle (lucanus cervus) is a large insect and one of the most well-known of all the beetles. The male is easily recognized because of his mouthparts which have evolved into enormous jaws, resembling the antlers on a stag's head. Despite their fearsome appearance, these antlers are useless for biting, and are used to fight other males. It is the smaller female we need to be wary of - her tiny antlers may look less threatening but they can inflict a sharp nip!
Stag beetles used to be much more common and widespread than they are today. They are still declining in numbers. Adult stag beetles are sometimes killed on purpose by people thinking that they are dangerous, but the biggest threat to them, as is the case with most threatened species, is destruction of their habitat. Many woodlands have been cleared of fallen trees, depriving the female beetles of the damp, decaying timber they need for laying their eggs.
The larva lives 3-5 years. Adults live only between the months of May and August.

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