Lesser Stag Beetle Maybe?

[brianholland]

Hi Klaas,
Here are the two images of the beetle that my wife Margaret photographed in our small garden here in Ipswich.

I think it is as I have named it but would be glad of your comments please,

How I would love lessons on how to use this WAB site as it offers so much .

Regards,

Brian.

[Dogghound]

Sorry not Klaas but...

Yes this is a lesser stag beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus.

A easy way to seperate female stag beetles from lesser stagbeetles is the tibia only has one tooth in lesser in stag it has three. Plus the colour and morophological differences.

[Matt Smith]

This is a female Stag beetle, not a Lesser Stag. Note the angled shape to the edge of the thorax, this is much more rounded in Lesser Stag. The elytra are smooth and without large punctures giving it a "shiny" appearance, the elytra of the Lesser Stag is very matt, as is the pronotum. Also, the elytra have a broad "rim" round the edge which is not so pronounced in Lesser Stags. For an almost identical pose to the beetle in the photo see Stag beetle ID

Ipswich is a well known Stag Beetle hotspot, so its not an unusual sighting.

[The Woodman]

Great images all the same.

[basquesteve]

Female Stag Beetle



Lesser Stag Beetle




Regular visitors in my garden

[Jim Ford]

I agree - the O.P.'s image is of a female stag beetle. Nice find, we don't get them around here.

We get lesser stag beetles in the garden. They find their way into the house as well. They're sluggish creatures. I quite like them, though I'd prefer the 'real thing'!

Jim

[basquesteve]

The real thing

[Klaas Reißmann]

Hi all,

@ Dogghound

I'm not always true and so I can live with it doing mistakes. I hope you can, too.

A easy way to seperate female stag beetles from lesser stagbeetles is the tibia only has one tooth in lesser in stag it has three.

I didn't check my lesser stags in the collection, but you are right so far that the tibia in stag beetles have three (or even four) teeth. The one in the picture of Brian has got three teeth. So everything is ok for a stag and not a lesser stag.

Plus the colour and morophological differences.

The colour of lesser stag is black, very matt, the colour of a stag is brown or reddish brown with a smooth shine. Take a look at Brians picture. It is exactly this. Even the morphological differences are ok. Lesser stag the forwings are parallel, stag the forwings are a bit rounded.

Sorry, but this is Lucanus cervus, female, and not Dorcus parallelepipedus.


@ basquesteve

I don't know if it is for interrest, but your lesser stag is a male. If you already know, just ignore my statement.


Edit: @ Brian: Yes, I ment this picture. Very nice one of a female stag. You should be posting the other beetles pictures, too. On one hand, because there are a lot of beautiful pictures of beautiful beetles, on another hand, because we can give you the determination or correction of determination or confirmation.

Regards
Klaas

[Dogghound]

I'll get my coat

[The Woodman]

We can all do it, Dogghound, don't worry. Has it prompted your change of avatar?