Species Account for Lucanus cervus
PLEASE NOTE, many records in this group are not yet available
Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Stag Beetle
Coleoptera: Lucanidae
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Taxonomic group: beetles (Coleoptera) - Available county data
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W&C Act: Schedule 5
Status: Legal Protection;Nb;NT (European);Section 41 Priority Species
Essex BAP: Listed
Essex RDB: Listed
Saproxylic species
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Essex Red Data List comment
Essex Post-1969 record/s; VC18 1970-on record/s; VC19 1970-on record/s.
Species text
The Stag Beetle is an Essex and UK Biodiversity Plan species. It is the largest beetle found in the British Isles and males have huge jaws. The head and thorax are black with chestnut brown wing cases. Females are smaller and do not possess the large jaws, but are still much larger than the Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus.
Stag Beetles breed in rotting and decaying wood and the larvae can take up to four years to mature. The species is widespread in Southern England and in Essex there are two distinct population centres in N.E. Essex and S.W. Essex. As well as semi-natural habitats it is found in urban gardens and parklands.
You are likely to see Stag Beetles on warm summer evenings between May and August, but with a peak in June. You can help by sending in records of all your Stag Beetle sightings. References
Habitats
Recorded management for locations with Lucanus cervus
Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Lucanus cervus
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