The insect in the photo is, of course, a fine example of a male Lucanus elaphus – the giant stag beetle (family Lucanidae). Beetles belong to the fascinating order known as Coleoptera which makes up the largest order in all of the animal kingdom.
Among the better known forms in the United States are three species of giant stag beetles: the giant stag beetle, the reddish-brown stag beetle, and the black stag beetle. Stag beetles thrive especially in dank forests where many decaying logs are found. These sexually dimorphic beetles also go by the name pinch bugs. Male has much larger mandibles than the female, at least as long as the elytra. Male has much larger mandibles than the female, at least as long as the elytra. North America’s largest stag beetle. I found her wandering across the bike … These small stag beetles can easily be mistaken for beetles in other families (such as ground beetles ), but can be distinguished by their elbowed antennae. The first written evidence of this beetle's invasion of North America is from 1916, when it showed up in a New Jersey greenhouse, hungry and ready to stage a take-over. Beetles of North America Aristotle described beetles as “insects with wing cases” = Coleoptera, from Greek koleon, “sheath”, and pteron, “wing.” There are about 450,000 species of beetles, representing about 40% of all known insects. Although rare, beetle bites can occur from the following species: blister beetles, stag beetles and Longhorned beetles. Beetles - A Field Guide to the Beetles of North America by Richard E. White, Houghton Mifflin Company, Peterson Field Guide, 1983.
One of the largest of the North American beetles, females of this species can grow up to two inches long and males up to three inches.
The insect in the photo is, of course, a fine example of a male Lucanus elaphus – the giant stag beetle (family Lucanidae). Beetles are amazing creatures that are easily recognized by their shell-like exteriors.
They are also attracted to light, making your patio another area to be cautious of this beetle. 28-60 mm long (including the mandibles), possibly more. Giant stag beetle Lucanus elaphus - Fabricius, 1775 Identification hints: Dark shiny brown, head and antlers a little paler. Occurs in from Virginia, North and South Carolina, west to Oklahoma.
In North America, the largest species measures just over 2 inches, but tropical stag beetles can easily top 3 inches. It is enormous, boasting lengths at 6 cm (over 2 inches). The Elephant Stag Beetle is the largest, measuring about 60 mm or about 2 1/3 inches. Beetles belong to the fascinating order known as Coleoptera which makes up the largest order in all of the animal kingdom. Stag beetles (family Lucanidae) do get quite large, which is why they are so popular with beetle collectors. Giant stag beetle Lucanus elaphus - Fabricius, 1775 Identification hints: Dark shiny brown, head and antlers a little paler. Blister beetles: These beetles feed on crops and gardens, so human contact is likely. This striking insect is easily among North America’s most distinctive and recognizable species by virtue of the enormously super-sized mandibles sported by the males. The scientists then sequenced their DNA to facilitate future identification through molecular methods.
28-60 mm long (including the mandibles), possibly more. In North America, however, P. japonica is an invasive species, with few to none of the natural predators that keep its numbers in check in Japan. The Common Stag Beetle is the second largest beetle, measuring between 22 and 40 mm (or about 1 1/2 inches) in length. These sexually dimorphic beetles also go by the name pinch bugs. Ulyshen and his colleagues reared larvae to adulthood to determine their identity. Stag Beetles are large, as you can see from the picture below. Stag Beetle Bite Even if they’re just crawling around logs and mulch in backyards, stag beetles look ready for a fight. This female specimen is about 1 inch long. About 900 species are found throughout the world, 30 of them in North America. But to keep their spots, the males must fend off challengers. The Coleoptera order is represented in 25,000 different known examples throughout North America and upwards of 350,000 species worldwide - making them the largest order of the animal kingdom. In the world of a male stag beetle, a good spot on a rotting log is a way to attract females, who like rotting wood to lay their eggs in. A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America by Elizabeth S. Dillon and Lawrence S. Dillon, Volume II, Dover Publications, Inc.