Giant stag beetle of the stag beetle family is indigenous to different parts of North America. They have an immensely big size, thus being alternately called elephant beetle.
Size: Males: 45 – 60 mm (1.77 – 2.36 inches); Females: 30 – 35 mm (1.18 – 1.37 inches)
Color: These beetles have a shiny reddish-brown body with black legs and antennae.
Other Characteristic Features: They are slender and elongated in appearance with a flattened back. Sexual dimorphism is prominent in these species. The male giant stag beetles have a wide head and a crest-like pattern on top of their eyes. Their jaws are also as large as a deer’s antlers; the length is a combination of the beetles’ thorax and head. The females appear smaller, with a narrower head and smaller jaws. Their elytra are also marked with tiny holes, a pattern absent in males.
The larva has a white, grub-like appearance and feeds on dead wood.
The pupa closely replicates adults, with the pupation phase going on for about 7 – 9 months.
The small, round eggs are laid on stumps or dead trees.
| Other Names | Elephant beetle |
| Adult lifespan | 1 – 3 months |
| Duration of larval stage | 3 – 5 months |
| Distribution | Parts of North America |
| Habitat | Deciduous forests |
| Common Predators | Fox, crow, cat |
| Seasons active from | May – July |
| Host Plants | Honeydew |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Decayed wood Adult: Plant juices |
Image Source: cdn.whatsthatbug.com, bugguide.net, render.fineartamerica.com, live.staticflickr.com, i.pinimg.com
Giant stag beetle of the stag beetle family is indigenous to different parts of North America. They have an immensely big size, thus being alternately called elephant beetle.
Size: Males: 45 – 60 mm (1.77 – 2.36 inches); Females: 30 – 35 mm (1.18 – 1.37 inches)
Color: These beetles have a shiny reddish-brown body with black legs and antennae.
Other Characteristic Features: They are slender and elongated in appearance with a flattened back. Sexual dimorphism is prominent in these species. The male giant stag beetles have a wide head and a crest-like pattern on top of their eyes. Their jaws are also as large as a deer’s antlers; the length is a combination of the beetles’ thorax and head. The females appear smaller, with a narrower head and smaller jaws. Their elytra are also marked with tiny holes, a pattern absent in males.
The larva has a white, grub-like appearance and feeds on dead wood.
The pupa closely replicates adults, with the pupation phase going on for about 7 – 9 months.
The small, round eggs are laid on stumps or dead trees.
| Other Names | Elephant beetle |
| Adult lifespan | 1 – 3 months |
| Duration of larval stage | 3 – 5 months |
| Distribution | Parts of North America |
| Habitat | Deciduous forests |
| Common Predators | Fox, crow, cat |
| Seasons active from | May – July |
| Host Plants | Honeydew |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Decayed wood Adult: Plant juices |
Image Source: cdn.whatsthatbug.com, bugguide.net, render.fineartamerica.com, live.staticflickr.com, i.pinimg.com
