Beetle for ID

[djeyewater]

I found this reasonably large beetle (about 30mm length) crossing a farm track between two fields (hay meadows):



Can anyone suggest an ID?

Thanks

Dave

[Dogghound]

Male Dorcus parallelopipedus

[jaguarondi]

Dorcus parallelipipedus, the lesser stag beetle. Quite common here in Suffolk - and occasionally seen in unlikely situations e.g. arable land because they like to wander

[Paul mabbott]

The last time I commented on a stag beetle, I was wrong. I still don't have access to my books &c so, again, I'll go for a female stag beetle, Lucanus cervus - but I may well be wrong yet again ...... ........
Aggresseive beetle to ID
PS: see, I hadn't even published and it was wrong already!

[Matt Smith]

Male Dorcus - note the peglike tooth on the mandible, you don't get that in female Stag Beetles. Whole body is heavily punctured, female SB have smooth chestnut eltyra.

[djeyewater]

Thanks all!

Dave