Ive found 6 or7 lavae/pupae dumped by council workers

[wozwzwzy101]

Hello Ive found 6 or 7 wild pupating lavae, they are white with chestnut heads and 1cm thick and7, 8 & 10cm long.
They were dumped in a water bottle by surrey county council workers cutting an ivy hedgerow down.

[htcdude]

Got any photos?

Nige

[Billabong Karen]

Do you mean the larvae were dumped by the council workers??? Or they were in a bottle dumped by the workers? Either way, it sounds a bit odd...

[wozwzwzy101]

yes here is a photo,
what Imean was council workers werecutting down well established hedgerow "for inspection of a stream bridgepipe" and when they left,I went to pick up the liter and inspect the damage(to wildlife),and found they had left behind 7 large pupae in a water bottle and I have phone hydestyle and leatherhead but no reply.
Its ignorance towards any livingthing typical of our local authority workers unfortunatly.

[htcdude]

Here's your image:



I can't help with the ID, but I'm sure someone will soon

Nige

[wozwzwzy101]

Thanks

[King Edward]

I think these might be Stag Beetle larvae.

[Billabong Karen]

I wonder whether the workers found the larvae while cutting back the hedge, popped them in the empty bottle and then forgot all about them? I've just googled stag beetle larvae - that certainly looks like them! Have you still got them? What are you doing with them? I would cover them with some leaves and keep them in a dark and coolish place until some knowledgeable person on here tells you how best to deal with them.

[wozwzwzy101]

Thank you.
Are they a protected species by any chance? and dont suppose you know how bestto care for them? I cant return them because the Surrey county council ORKS might be back again tomorrow.I wonder if they were in the ground,soil,stream or the ivy hedge?

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by wozwzwzy101

Are they a protected species by any chance?

Yes - schedule 5. See:

http://www.ptes.org/files/276_stag_b...nd_the_law.pdf

Can you get the to Kew? The last time I was there they had buckets of wood chips half buried for stag beetle larva.

Jim