Insect
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Size
35–75 mm (male antlers add up to 5 cm)UK's largest land beetle — about the length of a 50p coin
Weight
2–6 gAbout the weight of a large paperclip
Lifespan
4–7 years as larvae underground; adults live only 1–2 months
Rarity
Uncommon
M vs F
Males have huge branched mandibles used for wrestling rivals; females are smaller with shorter functional jaws that can actually bite
Habitat
Old deciduous woodland and large gardens in SE England — needs dead wood in soil
Best time
May–August; adults fly at dusk on warm evenings
Conservation
UK: Red
NT
💡 Did you know?
Despite their terrifying appearance, male Stag Beetles cannot bite hard enough to break human skin — their huge mandibles are purely for wrestling
Larvae spend up to 7 years eating dead wood underground; the adult emerges, mates, and dies within weeks without eating a proper meal
Often confused with
Lesser Stag Beetle (female-sized
black
blunter mandibles)
Dor Beetle (smaller
dung-associated)
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