Lesser Stag Beetle vs Schizonotus Chalcid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Lesser Stag Beetle Schizonotus Chalcid
Scientific Name Dorcus parallelipipedus Schizonotus sieboldi
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Lucanidae Chalcididae
Size 19-32 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Parasitoids
Regions Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe East Asia, Japan
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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Did You Know?

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

Schizonotus Chalcid

A parasitoid of mason bee larvae found across temperate Asia. It enters the sealed mud nests of Osmia bees to lay its eggs on the developing bee larvae.

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Did You Know?

It times its attack to coincide with the brief window when mason bee cells are sealed but larvae are still vulnerable.