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Stag beetle
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Mircea Costina (mirceax)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 231 W: 56 N: 1354]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (6247) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2007-07 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Camera: Nikon D50, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro |
| Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds |
| Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-11-20 13:52 |
| Viewed: 897 |
| Points: 14 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
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 resemblance of the male's mandibles to the horns of a stag, and their use in combat between males, much like with deer, that gives the species its scientific and common names.
source:http://en.wikipedia.org |
Ena, jrobertop, oamkumar has marked this note useful
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Hi Mircea,
perfect macro shot of Lucanus with great colors, fine details, nice sharpness. BG, frame and composition and also POV great. thanks, best wishes
Ahmet
- Ena
(2458)
- [2007-11-20 16:01]
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Hello Mircea,
Beautiful shot!
Good colors and sharpness! Good DOF and POV!
Regards
Ena
Hello Mircea,
Perfect macro!
Excellent colors, sharpness and texture.
Wonderful coleopter.
Congratulations for the wealth of details.
Well done!
Best wishes,
José Roberto
Beautiful shot.. And thanks a lot for the note.
Hello Mircea,
Beautiful macro with a lot of details.The movement of the Lucanus is well captured!
I just regret the strong reflection of the flash but that's just my mind ;o)
Thank you!
Servane
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- joey
(24727)
- [2007-11-21 1:16]
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Wow!
Super sharp image Mircea!
+++ Amazing detail in its carapace.
Great texture on the tree aswell.
Nice colours and lighting.
--- DOF maybe a bit too shallow but otherwise... nothing :)
Well done,
Joe
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- RP1
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 163 W: 1 N: 119]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(2404) - [2007-12-01 11:25]
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Salut Mircea,
Très belle photo avec de belles couleurs et un beau BG. J'aime particulièrement la posture de l'insecte.
Merci,
Roger
