Product Description
The beetles reach a body length of 12 to 16 millimeters and have a very shiny, black body, sometimes with turquoise sheen. Despite being in the family Lucanidae (stag beetles), they look rather like true rhinoceros beetles, which are well known for their rhinoceros-like horn. The body is cylindrical and the elytra and thorax have distinct rows of pits and grooves. The males have a well-developed horn on their heads, which is significantly smaller in the females. In addition, the cavities on the pronotum in the female are much shallower than the distinct cavities in the male. The larvae are white and soft with brown heads. With the exception of southwestern Spain and Portugal and northern Scandinavia, the species occurs throughout the European continent and the British Isles to western Siberia. The beetle prefers primary deciduous forests at cooler and higher altitudes, but can also be found in old willow stands, avenue and street trees, parkland, hedgerows, and fruit trees.
Male rhinoceros beetles can be easily identified by the horn-like projection on their head, which earned the species its name. Females have a less prominent small bump. The species is black, sometimes with a blue-green sheen. Rhinoceros beetles are related to stag beetles, but are much smaller. This species never exceeds 2cm in length, while male stag beetles can be nearly four times longer.
When they are ready to lay their eggs, female beetles will bury into rotting wood, creating a system of tunnels. While his mate is busy working, the male will guard the tunnel entrance to stop any rivals from entering. Once the eggs have hatched, the larvae will feed in the tunnels eating the rotting wood. Dead and decaying wood is one of any woodland's most important microhabitats. Learn more about why we need more of it, as well as the rare and endangered beetles, colorful fungi and other threatened wildlife that relies on it.
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