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Talkback: Stag beetles

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
I LOVE LOVE LOVE stag beetles! Do they come in two sizes? I sometimes see small ones -- are they the younger generation?
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    every year my sister has loads of the giant buggers in her garden,not so good for the dogs though as they hang onto the fur on the dogs,and when the dogs come running into the house,the beetles drop off,and crawl on the floor,my sister really really hates them.where do they all come from...she has rung the local council to a bug man to get rid of them,but they dont do that.years ago[many years ago] when i was at school if you ever saw a stag beetle you had to inform the council...on average my sister has about 10/15 in here garden.they are only there for a few day,we dont know where they go.my sister lives in a very very old house,is that the reason why there is so many?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Found a beautiful but dead male stag beetle on our drive this morning - so sad. These gorgeous creatures are protected species I think and should not be considered a pest as they have a hard time finding suitable undisturbed breeding places.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Reply to Frieda
    I think you may be labouring under a misapprehension. Just as young butterflies are caterpillars, young stag beetles are grubs (or maggots or larvae depending on our vernacular choice). They do vary in size tremendously. The antlered 'stag' males are usually much bigger than the females. Then there is the lesser stag beetle, a different species, Dorcus parallelipipedus. Have a look at an earlier blog http://blog.gardenersworld.com/2008/06/25/rj-stag-beetle-25062008/ where there is a picture of female stag and lesser.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Reply to Sarahs Pond Life
    What luck to have 10 to 15 stag beetles in the garden each year. What a shame they are unwelcome. They are completely harmless unless you deliberately (and rather stupidly) thrust your finger into the male's jaws. In which case it will bite. In the spirit of scientific investigation I did just this a few years ago and ended up with blood all over my field note book. They are probably breeding in subterranean root systems and old stumps long since forgotten, buried in the soil and with no sign on the surface. The adults only live a few days or weeks. During this time they must find mates and the females must find a suitable place to lay eggs. They fall victim to birds, foxes, dogs, cats, cars and, sadly, pedestrians, treading them underfoot because they do not appreciate what gentle giant beasts they are.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We have a pair of pheasants living in our garden. They are wonderful to watch, but they are eating my begonias! I wondered whether to coat the begonias with something not very nice, like vinegar, or hairspray before I plant them out. Would this work?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have a small garden (whistable) and some chickens and have had stags visit yearly, these huge and quite scary things whizz past,they almost look like young bats (sorry can't spell pipenstail) still now i have leant a bit more i am not so scared! in fact have taken some amazing pics of them. I don't like them getting into the house which is where they seem to be making for sometimes. hope the chickens are wise and leave them be.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I saw the most gorgeous beetle on my way to the allotment this morning. It looked like a moving foil sweet wrapper - metallic shades of green and gold, scarab-shaped and very large (about an inch long). Wish I'd had the camers with me. Can you tell me what it was, please? Never seen one before.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Reply to Grannyanne

    Sounds like it might be a rose chafer, Cetonia aurata. Try this link to confirm your identification.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    My backyard in MN, USA is FULL of Stag Beetles, and I want them gone! Come and get them...
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Got home (West Berkshire) just before dusk tonight to see dozens of stag beetles flying and crawling around on the ground. Some of the males were clearly in fighting mode and were being very aggressive with each other. It was amazing to see so many together, but why so many on one night? Is it the peak of the mating season? The summer solstice?
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