Stag Beetles

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by naturegirl

If you live in or near Whitstable in Kent, they have a very good population of Stag beetles there, I am reliable informed!

Naturegirl

Thought it was oysters?

[jacktyegeorge]

Hi all i have found a female stag beatle in my garden about 1.5inchs long are they protected or not, i put it my next door neighbours garden as they have very long grass was this the right thing to do, thanks for your help

[GeorgiandNic]

Stags are in!! My 7 year old daughter saw one on her walk to school with granny today (she knows ALL!! about them from previous years) and I was slightly dubious...until this evening, at 9pm, avoiding doing any lesson prep I was mooching in the garden, to great rustling..and sure enough a HUGE stag taking an amble through my ivy..I am afraid I have never seen one fly so when it flexed its wings and took off...so did I, for the back door, but watched it flying around the garden, amazing sight & cant wait to tell daughter in the morning...our area is V good for sightings. Also this eve sa a bee asleed in my Lavatera (surely they don't??), is it me or are bees super-sized this year? I just logged on today so I am a bit of an insect novice!!

[donmaico]

the sighting was in the worthing area of SussexI also saw an empty shell and wondered if they shed them like snakes shed their skin

[shenanigans]

Yep, I've had a female in the garden last weekend. Have had one before, hence why I know what it is... and although smaller, she was still big! The only rotting wood I have in my garden is my shed!! And did wonder where they came from... but now I know they can fly lol! As with a previous post, I am in Colchester, essex.

[gillwrig]

How far north do they come.... any chance they may venture upto Cheshire

[squishy]

lucky you! i've always wanted stag beetle in my garden.

if you want them, apparently you should just put out a few different types of old log, because no ones really sure exactly what condition they prefere.

you'll have to wait a long time though, they are in the larval form for up to 7 years then only live a couple of years at most as adults

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by squishy

lucky you! i've always wanted stag beetle in my garden.

if you want them, apparently you should just put out a few different types of old log, because no ones really sure exactly what condition they prefere.

you'll have to wait a long time though, they are in the larval form for up to 7 years then only live a couple of years at most as adults

People are sure what they prefer, they like deciduous wood with a particular preference for Oak, but will go in birch, beech and ash. Adults only live for about a month not two years. However as you say the larvae can take afew years to develop.


donmaico: They dont shed their skins and dont grow as adults (All beetles are like this).

[NotKeen!]

I live in Surrey and am currently looking out of my window into my garden watching four male stag beetles flying around while a female sits on the wall giving them 'the nod'! I can't even pop out to my car without taking a tennis racket with me incase one gets too close and I am struggling to appreciate their novelty! It was the same in my old house and I even uncovered not one but two large nests by accident with grubs at varying stages which were also not pretty. I wish I could appreciate them but their clumsiness and size totally unnerve me. I for one will be glad when they have disappeared for the season and have given me my garden back!