Stag Beetle vs Helm's Stag Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Stag Beetle | Helm's Stag Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lucanus cervus | Geodorcus helmsi |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Lucanidae | Lucanidae |
| Size | 25-75 mm (males with mandibles) | 25-40 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Oceania (New Zealand - South Island) |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Near Threatened |
Stag Beetle
Europes largest beetle. Males have dramatically enlarged mandibles resembling antlers, used in wrestling contests for females. Larvae develop in rotting wood for 3-7 years.
Did You Know?
Male stag beetles spend up to seven years as larvae feeding on decaying wood underground before emerging for just a few weeks as adults to find a mate.
Helm's Stag Beetle
An endemic New Zealand stag beetle found in the forests of the South Island. Males have enlarged mandibles used in fighting. It is a large, flightless beetle that lives in rotting logs in native bush. Several Geodorcus species are found only in New Zealand.
Did You Know?
New Zealand stag beetles are flightless, having lost their ability to fly in the absence of land mammal predators over millions of years of island evolution.