Tuesday, April 7, 2026

STAG BEETLE

Male stag beetles have overzised mandibles that resemble antlers. They are used to wrestle each other for favored mating sites. The females have much smaller bodies and jaws.

Stag Beetle image via public domain.

Stag beetles are not aggressive toward humans. These insects are rare and a symbol of good luck. In some cultures, they are used in for betting/gaming activities (i.e., fighting one another), but not in the USA. In most countries, they are rare and a symbol of good luck.


The fossil record of these distinctive insects ranges from late Middle Jurassic (Callovian) [176 million years ago] to recent.


Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Arthropoda

Class Insecta

Order Coleoptera

Family Luncanidae

Genus Lucanus


There are many species; for example, in the USA alone, there are 30 species.


Reference


Wikipidea, 2026

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