Lesser Stag Beetle vs Pea Weevil

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Lesser Stag Beetle	Pea Weevil
Scientific Name	Dorcus parallelipipedus	Bruchus pisorum
Order	Coleoptera	Coleoptera
Family	Lucanidae	Chrysomelidae
Size	19-32 mm	4-5 mm
Habitat	Woodlands	Farmland
Diet	Wood Feeders	Omnivores
Regions	Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe	Worldwide in pea-growing regions
Conservation	Least Concern	Not Evaluated

Lesser Stag Beetle

A robust, matt-black beetle found across European woodlands. Unlike its larger cousin, both sexes have similarly sized mandibles.

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Larvae take three to four years to develop inside rotting logs before pupating.

A small brownish beetle that lays eggs on developing pea pods. The larva eats its way into a single pea and develops entirely inside it.

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Each larva consumes only one pea, leaving a perfectly round exit hole when it emerges.