Lesser stag beetle

Appearance

Both sexes resemble the female stag beetle, though they are a uniformly blackish colour rather than having the chestnut brown wing covers of the larger species. Males have distinctly knobbed antennae, and although their jaws are somewhat larger than those of the females, they are nowhere near as large as those of many other male stag beetles. The lesser stag beetle is similar in appearance to the related antelope beetle of North America.

Adults are from 18 to 32 mm in length. Like those of other stag beetles, the white, C-shaped larvae feeds on wood. Adults as well as larvae are found in very soft decaying wood of broad-leaved trees, especially ash, beech and apple.

Behavior

Adults are active in summer and disperse by flying, and sometimes coming to outside lights. This is a widespread species in most of England and is generally common, coming into gardens wherever there are orchards, old hedges or large trees.