Product Description
Like all beetles, stag beetles have "complete" metamorphosis with egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. In many stag beetle species, females lay their eggs on or under the bark of dead, fallen trees. Upon hatching, larvae chew their way into the tree and feed on the juices of the decaying wood. Once they complete development (a process which may take several years), the larvae pupate in small chambers in the soil near their food source. When the adult emerges it searches for a mate. The males in some species use their huge jaws to fight each other over females. Adults live for 1-2 years, depending on the species.
Like all beetles, Stag Beetles have chewing mouthparts and hardened front wings (elytra) that meet in a straight line down the back of the abdomen when closed. Stag beetles range from reddish brown to black and have long legs with spiny tibia that are wide at the tips (pictured below left). The antennae are often elbowed with a comb-like club on the end (below right). Stag beetles are similar in appearance to the closely related Bess Beetles (Passalidae), but bess beetles do not have elbowed antennae and stag beetles do not have a horn like bess beetles have. There are 30 different species of stag beetles in the US. Two-thirds of them live in the western half of the country, but Kentucky is home to several species.
Like all beetles, stag beetles have "complete" metamorphosis with egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. In many stag beetle species, females lay their eggs on or under the bark of dead, fallen trees. Upon hatching, larvae chew their way into the tree and feed on the juices of the decaying wood. Once they complete development (a process which may take several years), the larvae pupate in small chambers in the soil near their food source. When the adult emerges it searches for a mate. The males in some species use their huge jaws to fight each other over females. Adults live for 1-2 years, depending on the species.
Stag beetles are slow-moving herbivores that climb well and are believed to feed on leaves, sap, and aphid honeydew. Kentucky species are found in wooded areas, but there are a few species from other parts of the world that live on beaches. Not much is known about the feeding habits of adult stag beetles, but they are often seen flying to lights at night during the summer. When disturbed, a stag beetle will rear back and hold its head high with its mandibles open.
Because they help with the decomposition of dead trees, stag beetle larvae (like termites and other creatures) are a vital part of the forest ecosystem. No healthy hardwood forest in Kentucky is without stag beetle larvae. Stag beetles and their larvae are food for a variety of animals, including birds, lizards, snakes, toads, raccoons, centipedes, weasels, skunks, etc.
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