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Stag Beetle

We found a dead Stag Beetle - Species: Lucanus cervus floating in the Grand Union Canal in June 2008.

We were surprised to find the Stag Beetle is a native species to southern and eastern England in the class: Insecta, Order: Coleoptera, Family: Lucanidae, Subfamily: Lucaninae, Genus: Lucanus

This creature looks like it belongs in ancient Egypt not within a stones throw of Uxbridge! First named the Stag Beetle by Linnaeus in 1758. 'Stag' is the specific name in English for an adult male Red Deer - Species: Cervus elaphus and coincidentally our Stag Beetle did have a reddish-chestnut hue over the mandibles.

The Stag Beetle lives in holes in old trees and dead trunks, in the forest. We are told these beetles are good flyers and make a really high pitched buzzing noise.

It takes about 3 years to become adult and then they only live for a few months feeding on nectar, soft or damaged fruit and tree sap. Male Stag Beetles range between 35 and 92mm, Females between 35 and 45mm ant the same species is found across West, Central and East Europe.

If you have any unusual pictures of British wildlife around our waterways then please let us share them with our readers.