So hello everyone!
I'm new here...and I'm here because I think that Insect are really interesting...So this is why I'm here
The stag beetle or Lucanus cervus is the largest beetle species native to Europe within the so-called Schröter and has been a protected species for decades in many countries.
The stag beetle got its name because of the striking elongated mouthparts of the males, which resemble the antlers of a stag. As dangerous as these seem, they can hardly inflict any injuries. They are also not used for feeding. They are used solely for impersonation, to drive away male rivals.
The females do not have these pincers and, with a maximum body length of four centimeters, are almost half as small as the males. Common to both sexes are the reddish dark brown wing covers, the black head and neck shield, and the leafy fanned antennae at the upper end.
Stag beetles are native to central and southern Europe and parts of the Near East and Asia Minor, where they primarily inhabit oak woodlands and parks.
Stag beetles live for only a few weeks from June to August. During this time they go in search of food by flying through the air with loud humming noises, although this seems very sedate due to their heavy bodies.
The stag beetles' food source is a sugary sap that oozes from tree wounds. Since there are microorganisms on the surface of these tree wounds that ferment the oak sugar into alcohol, stag beetles sometimes get drunk from licking the sap and fall to the ground after feeding.
Attracted by the feeding sites, males and females also meet here to mate.
During the mating season, fierce fights can be observed between rival males, in the course of which both try to expel their opponent with their mouthparts and push him off the tree bark or branch. However, such fights never end in serious injury or even death of the inferior.
After mating, the female burrows deep into the ground and lays eggs in rotten wood or dying tree roots, which later serve as food for the larvae, which can grow up to ten centimeters long. Egg laying can last up to two weeks.
The larvae transform the dead wood into extremely nutrient-rich mulm in the course of the metabolic processes, but for their part they can hardly absorb any nutrients through their food, which is why their development is very slow.
Three to seven years can pass before a larva becomes an adult beetle.
In recent years, stag beetle populations are gradually increasing again somewhat. Researchers suspect that this is linked to climate change.
As dangerous as the tongs look...they are not dangerous....
And about the photo: That was a really big guy...normally you only get half that size
Thanks for reading and I hope you learned something...
CU next time...