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Talkback: Stag beetles

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
Magnificent creatures! Have seen these around my garden in Kent in the last week or so. Thanks for the link to the Stag Beetle Survey. Must send off my record too!
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Very interesting, I haven't had the pleasure of seeing one of these chaps but it looks very impressive in your picture!
    I have a dedicated wildlife area in my garden now which consists of log piles, wild flower lawn and all my fences and partitions within this area are made from either upended logs or hurdles made from entwined branches. All ready this year I have seen a massive increase in butterflies, lady birds and other bugs and beetles so hopefully in years to come I may get the pleasure of this magnificent fella also!

    higgy

    http://higgysgardenproject.blogspot.com/
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Cervus lucana. A magnificent beast is it not?Hopefully you are right about it being a good year for them,they deserve to survive.If only people who have gardens would put aside a piece of their patch just for beetles of all species!Except of course-woodlice,they I could do without.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I agree, Stag Beetles are magnificent. I keep the odd log pile in my garden, it does not take up much room to help beetles and other wildlife.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    It is a good year for beetles. I have picked up several on the pavement on the way to my shops and put them back on the verge so they do not get trodden on. I can't ever recall doing this in the fifty odd years I have been treading this route. When I was pushing a pushchair it was the eagle-eyed occupants who would point out the worms, ladybirds etc we encountered. Children are fascinated by bugs of all kinds. I put a capsid bug and a lily beetle in a matchbox to show them how beautiful and different they can be but was never lucky enough to find a monster stag beetle.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I saw a stag beetle last weekend in Bromley, Kent. It's the first one I've seen since I was a child, which would be over 30 years ago now!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    In my garden I have black beetles but they don't look like the stag beetle. I would love to see one. Can these beetles be 'storm beetles' or are there pests? I hate killing anything.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Richard, I just had a wildlife experience on my way home from the shops - a ladybird alighted on my shoulder. i told it to stay there and i would take it away from the concrete jungle to some greenery but it misunderstood me and flew off. It reminded me of 1976 when the promenade at Weston suer Mare was invaded by tens of thousands of ladybirds right in the middle if the tourist season. By the many I have seen already it is set to be just such a summer.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    And I nearly stepped on one in Herne Hill the other week! Didn't fancy picking him up though, so had to encourage him back a bush with a big stick while my girlfriend screamed.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Stag beetle update.
    Got a call from a friend yesterday evening, their cat had brought in a stag beetle. It was damaged so I collected it this morning. It's lost a wing case and a couple of legs. It's very unsure of itself, and I doubt it will survive.

    Lazy gardener. I'm not sure I know what storm beetles are.

    Happymarion. They 'swarmed' in Brighton too that year, biting people when they landed. Very odd.

    Andy. They look menacing, but are very gentle really. They feel a bit scratchy with their clawed feet as they crawl on you, but I have photos of my children holding them quite easily. Just don't stick your finger between their massive jaws. Ordinarily, they do not have enough leverage to squeeze hard, and give just a nip with the tips of their jaws. But I once 'tested' a giant in Downham (near Bromley) and it skewered me with the large tooth about a third from the base of each jaw. I got blood all over my field notebook. Ironically, the females, which lack the antlers, have much more power and are more likely to give a sharp bite.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Richard

    I googled garden beetles and found. I think. what appears in my garden just before it rains (ground beetle)family carbidae. Is it a pest? I quite liked the look of it.

    happymarion adviced me to use a magnifying glass in the garden and what things of interest I could find. I certainly have.!!!!Love searching out things.
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