Stag beetle larvae survey

According to various surveys the majority of the stag beetle Lucanus cervus records in the UK come from private gardens (Bowdrey, 1997; Percy et al., 2000; Smith, 2003) and soon or later their breeding grounds are bound to be disturbed while gardening or during other activities such as landscaping. For example, the photo on the right shows L. cervus larvae found inside the trunk of an old Buddleia shrub when it was being pruned.

As I am interested in understanding the urban interactions between people and this saproxylic species I am now running a Stag beetle "larval incidents" in private gardens survey ; therefore if you have found any, or know of anybody who has, please, take a few minutes to fill it.

In addition, you may also submit your records in the EFC, but that will not cover what I am looking for, of course.

For more about stag beetles please visit Stag Beetles for Everyone 

References:

• Bowdrey, J. (1997). The stag beetle Lucanus cervus L. (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) in north-east Essex: Results of the 1996 Colchester "Search for Stag Beetles" survey. Essex Naturalist, 14, 79-88.

• Percy, C., Bassford, G. & Keeble, V. (2000). Findings of the 1998 National Stag Beetle Survey. Robb, C. (ed). People's Trust for Endangered Species. London, UK, 1-48.

• Smith, M.N. (2003). National Stag Beetle Survey 2002. Peoples Trust for Endangered Species, London, UK, 1-14.

First uploaded on 5 October by Maria Fremlin