Insect 🪲
🪲
Lucanus cervus
| 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 g About 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
Despite their terrifying appearance, male Stag Beetles cannot bite hard enough to break human skin — their huge mandibles are purely for wrestling
More for experts
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)
Lesser Stag Beetle (female-sized, black, blunter mandibles), Dor Beetle (smaller, dung-associated)