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Lucanus cervus


Lucanus cervus
Photo Information
Copyright: Emmanuel Boitier (emmari) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 105 W: 0 N: 387] (3105)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-13
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma 150mm F2.8 APO Macro DG HSM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/50 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-17 7:20
Viewed: 863
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hope u like it!

Lucanus cervus is the best-known species of stag beetle (family Lucanidae), and is sometimes referred to simply as the stag beetle. It lives in holes in old trees and dead trunks, in the forest as well as in groves. Forest management, in eliminating old trees and deadwood, eliminates at the same time the habitat and food of this species. Once quite common, the population of the Lucanus cervus, along with that of other species of beetles which feed on wood, is in steep decline, and is now listed as a globally threatened/declining species.

Adults appear during late May to the beginning of August being most active in the evenings. Females lay their eggs in a piece of decaying wood. Stag Beetle larvae, which are blind and shaped like a letter "C", feed on rotting wood in a variety of places, tree stumps, old trees and shrubs, rotting fence posts, compost heaps and leaf mould. The larvae have a cream-coloured soft transparent body with six orange legs, and an orange head which is very distinct from the very sharp brown pincers. They have combs in their legs which they use for communication (stridulation) with other larvae. The larvae go through several developmental stages (instars), taking 4 to 6 years to become pupae. The work of entomologist Charlie Morgan during the late 1970s discovered that the pupae of the Stag Beetle live in the soil for about 3 months, then emerge in summer to awkwardly fly off to mate. Adults only live for a few months feeding on nectar and tree sap. Their slow, lumbering flight, usually at dusk, makes a distinctive low-pitched buzzing sound. The males fly more readily than the females. The modern Italian word for a toy kite cervo volante (and hence the French cerf-volant) may derive from the ancient amusement of flying the beetles on a length of thread.

The stag beetle is preyed upon by magpies, chickens, badgers, foxes, hedgehogs, cats, and woodpeckers.

The natural reaction of the beetle to an approaching large object is to remain motionless making them a good photographic subject. Sexually dimorphic, the males have enlarged mandibles and are larger than the females. Although the male's mandibles seem threatening, they are too weak to be harmful. Nevertheless, females can inflict a painful bite. It is the resemblence of the male's mandibles to the horns of a stag that gives the species its scientific and common names.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucanus_cervus
pirate, LordPotty, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Bonjour Emmanuel,
Très belle capture de ce machin...j'allais dire mais qui porte bien le nom de 'Lucanus cervus'..!
Un excellent 'bokeh' par la même occasion..:o)
Un très bon cliché en tout cas..!
Bien à toi et bon congé.
Patrick

  • Great 
  • pirate Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 473 W: 99 N: 624] (3215)
  • [2007-05-17 7:28]
  • [2]

Hi Great picture even if a more parallel aproach would have given an even better DOF on the whole animal.
TOM

bonjour emmanuel
la qualité d'image est irreprochable pour ce joli cerf volant.
extra.
laurent

Great shot Emmanuel
This reminds me of when I was at school in England.
We used to keep these as pets.
Excellent clarity and good composition here.
Well done.
Steve

Hi Emmanuel,
that's marvelous - an excellent shot, I like the sharpness and the brilliant colours.
You were brave, I'm always a little afraid of those big bugs. Thanks and bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2007-05-17 8:36]

Hi Emmanuel,
Brilliant shot of the beetle, though a bit frightening. Excellent sharpness and lovely colours. Perfect lighting and exposure. I like the POV and the DOF. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2007-05-17 9:12]

Hello Emmanuel,
this is an awesome shot of this spectacular creature.
Very sharp and detailed with a brilliant DOF and BG.
Well done,
Joey

  • Great 
  • Seiei Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 30] (121)
  • [2007-05-17 9:45]

Bonjour Emmanuel

Tres belle macro, bien fichue :)
contraste des couleurs tres sympa, bien vu

Christophe

  • Great 
  • rdfoto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 372 W: 0 N: 719] (3295)
  • [2007-05-17 13:25]

Bonjour Emmanuel
Très belle prise de cet Lucanus cervus, superbe gestion de l'exposition, luminosité et très bonne netteté. Bravo
Ca fais une bonne 30taine d'années que j'en ai plus observé dans ma région, malheureusement.
Amicalement Robi

Hello Emmanuel,
perfectly well captured pose, precisely well focussed with well chosen falloff in sharpness. A pleasure to see the stag beetle in such a lush green vegetation, and that early.
Thank you!
With best regards,
Peter
:)

Bonsoir Emmanuel,
Beau cliché sur la mousse de ce superbe spécimen de lucanus cervus. Excellente réalisation, nette colorée fidèlement. Bravo.
Cordialement
Joël

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