Lucanus cervus (1) Stag Beetle Insect Coleopter Lucanidae

Description

Sex : M

Origin : Italy (Lombardia)

Size : mm 40-50

Lucanus cervus Male cm 4-5 Stag Beetle Insect Coleopter Lucanidae.
Common name: The European Stag Beetle.

The European Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus Linnaeus, 1758) is a Coleopter of the Lucanidae family.
With a length ranging from 25 to 80 millimeters (100 mm for the judaicus subspecies), the stag beetle is certainly one of the largest existing beetles in Europe. Also widespread in Asia Minor and the Middle East, in Italy it is found especially in the northern regions. It lives in cavities in tree trunks and stumps.
It owes its name to the presence of two structures that resemble the antlers of a deer, but which are nothing other than very developed mandibles, more so in the male than in the female. These "horns" are used for fighting during the reproductive period and make the male appear more fearsome than he actually is, in fact the muscles are not able to forcefully move these gigantic mandibles which are therefore quite harmless. In the female, however, being smaller they are also much more effective and allow the bearer to pinch with more force and with greater damage. The mandibles allow you to distinguish the male from the female. Among males, the relative shape and size of the mandibles shows great variation. Larger individuals invest more energy in developing these "weapons". The development of these exaggerated structures has negative effects on the probability of survival of the individuals who possess them. At the same time, however, larger mandibles could give larger males an advantage, both in fighting and in mating.
The eggs are laid at the base of the stumps of old or dying trees (preferably: oak, chestnut, beech, willow and poplar) which are cut by the female's mandibles before deposition.
When they hatch, light-colored larvae are born equipped with powerful mandibles which they use to carve wood and dig long tunnels. At the end of their development these larvae dig a cell in which metamorphosis will take place.
Adults feed on nectar and tree sap, but also on ripe fruit.