European Stag Beetle
Scientific Name: Lucanus cervus
Order & Family: Order: Coleoptera; Family: Lucanidae
Size: 35 mm to 90 mm (males are significantly larger due to mandibles)
Natural Habitat
Deciduous woodlands, parks, and gardens containing old trees and rotting wood, particularly oak.
Diet & Feeding
Adults primarily feed on tree sap and fallen fruit; larvae feed on decaying wood (saproxylophagous).
Behavior Patterns
Crepuscular and nocturnal flyers. Males use their large, antler-like mandibles to wrestle rivals for mating rights. The larval stage can last 3 to 7 years underground.
Risks & Benefits
No risk to humans as they are non-venomous; though they can pinch with mandibles, they rarely do. Beneficial to the ecosystem as decomposers of dead wood.
Identified on: 5/23/2026