Common Stag Beetle

Natural Habitat

Deciduous forests, woodlands, and nearby residential areas with rotting logs or stumps.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on tree sap and rotting fruit; larvae (grubs) eat decaying wood from deciduous trees.

Behavior Patterns

They are primarily nocturnal and are attracted to artificial lights. Males use their mandibles to fight over mates; females lay eggs in or near decaying wood.

Risks & Benefits

Beneficial to the ecosystem as decomposers that recycle nutrients from dead wood back into the soil. They are harmless to humans, though they can give a small pinch if mishandled.

Identified on: 6/16/2026