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Stag-beetle-
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Marjan Gresl (marjan)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 474 W: 14 N: 360]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif) (2641) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-07-12 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Camera: Minolta Dimage Z1 |
| Exposure: f/3.2, 1/60 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-07-14 4:10 |
| Viewed: 2253 |
| Points: 10 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Hi my TN friends, my last photo was not good I think it should be and now I hawe a better one of the stag beatle, female again.
The stag beetles are a group of about 1,200 species of beetle in the family Lucanidae, the most well-known species being Lucanus cervus, a large beetle found in much of Europe. Some species grow to 8 cm (3.25 in), but usually they are about 5 cm (2 in).
The name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the males, that are used in much the same way as the antlers on stags are between males competing for mates. Carolus Linnaeus named the beetle Lucanus cervus. Pliny the Elder noted that Nigidius called the stag beetle lucani after the Italian region of Lucania where they were used as amulets.
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. |
budzon, Dando, scottevers7, RII, uleko has marked this note useful
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